How to say "yes and no" in Modern Standard Arabic
نَعَمْ وَلَا
na3am wa-la
- Without tashkeel
- نعم ولا
- Franco / chat alphabet
- na3am w la
- Literally
- yes and no
When to use it
na3am is the neutral yes of Modern Standard Arabic and la is the neutral no, used in every register from news broadcasts to textbooks. MSA also has a separate yes, bala, that is only used to contradict a negative question. In everyday speech each dialect swaps na3am for its own word, such as aywa or eh.
Other ways to say it
formal yes
أَجَلْ
ajal
yes, indeed
A literary yes, found in writing and formal speech.
yes, after a negative question
بَلَى
bala
yes (on the contrary)
Use to answer "isn't it...?" with a yes.
emphatic no
كَلَّا
kalla
no, not at all
A strong no, common in writing and speeches.
of course
طَبْعاً
tab3an
of course
A warmer yes when the answer is obvious.
How people reply
حَسَناً
7asanan
Okay.
هَلْ أَنْتَ مُتَأَكِّدٌ؟
hal anta muta'akkidun?
Are you sure?
شُكْراً
shukran
Thank you.
In a sentence
نَعَمْ، أَتَكَلَّمُ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ قَلِيلاً.
na3am, atakallamu al-3arabiyyata qalilan.
Yes, I speak a little Arabic.
لَا، شُكْراً، لَا أُرِيدُ قَهْوَةً.
la, shukran, la uridu qahwatan.
No, thank you, I do not want coffee.
أَلَيْسَ هَذَا كِتَابَكَ؟ بَلَى، هُوَ كِتَابِي.
alaysa hadha kitabaka? bala, huwa kitabi.
Isn't this your book? Yes, it is my book.