ENGLISH
REFERENCE

yea

n. · adv. · conj.
US //ˈjeɪ// UK //jˈeɪ// yea
  1. 1 a 'yes' vote (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Law

    a vote in favour of something, usually in a formal meeting.

    an affirmative vote, typically cast in a legislative or formal deliberative assembly.

    Example

    The final count was fifty yeas and only ten nays.

    Example

    After a heated debate, the speaker called for a voice vote, and the yeas clearly carried the motion.

    Usage

    Often paired with its opposite, 'nay'.
  2. 2 yes or indeed (adv.)
    C2 Proficiency Archaic Literary

    an old word for 'yes' or 'truly'.

    an archaic affirmative adverb used to express agreement or to emphasize a statement.

    Example

    Yea, it is exactly as you described it.

    Example

    The ancient text began with the words, 'Yea, the king did decree that all should gather at the gates.'

    Teacher's tip

    In modern English, this is almost exclusively found in religious texts or historical literature.
  3. 3 this much (adv.)
    C2 Proficiency American English Dialect Informal

    used with a hand gesture to show how big or small something is.

    a deictic adverb used to indicate size or extent, usually accompanied by a physical gesture.

    Example

    The fish he caught was about yea big.

    Example

    He held his hands apart to show that the gap was only yea wide, barely enough for a person to squeeze through.

    Usage

    Almost always precedes an adjective like 'big', 'high', or 'long'.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a specific regional usage; in most contexts, 'this' or 'so' is preferred.
  4. 4 even more so (conj.)
    C2 Proficiency Literary Archaic

    used to introduce a stronger or more specific word than the one before it.

    used to introduce a more precise or emphatic term than the one previously mentioned.

    Example

    It was a difficult, yea, impossible task to finish on time.

    Example

    The candidate's performance was impressive, yea, transformative for the party's public image.

    Teacher's tip

    This usage is very rare in speech and is used for dramatic effect in formal writing.
Etymology 1

From Middle English ye, ȝea, ya, ȝa, from Old English ġēa, iā (“yea, yes”), from Proto-West Germanic *jā. The modern pronunciation shows an irregular development of Early Modern English /ɛː/ to /eɪ/ in the standard language, probably from association with the antonym nay.

Etymology 2

From yeah.

Etymology 3

See yay.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026