yeah English · revision 2489

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|attested=1863}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /jeə/, US /jeə/, /jæə/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It represents a casual pronunciation of [[yes]],^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) and began as colloquial American English.^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) The American Heritage Dictionary calls it a variant of [[yea]].^(AHD 2000)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Yes: by 1863, in American English.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate gave 1902,^(MW Collegiate) the OED 1905^(OED 1989) and the Shorter Oxford the early 20th century^(SOED 2002) before the earlier evidence was found.^(MWU 2024)^(HTOED) The lighter form ''yeh'' is recorded by 1920.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1863 – ''yeah''.^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1920 – ''yeh''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # ''(informal)'' [[yes|alt=Yes]].^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[yea]]

+ * [[yes]]

+ * [[yep]]

+ * [[yeh]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary notes that American English has many pronunciations besides /jeə/ and /jæə/, among them /jɑː/.^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}