How to say "yes and no" in Iraqi Arabic
إي ولا
ee w-la
- Without tashkeel
- إي ولا
- Franco / chat alphabet
- ee w-la
- Literally
- yes and no
When to use it
"Ee" is the everyday Iraqi yes and "la" the no. "Na3am" is a polite yes, and "laa wallah" is a firm no.
Other ways to say it
polite yes
نَعَم
na3am
yes
Respectful yes, also used to answer when called.
of course
طَبعاً
tab3an
of course
A confident yes.
firm no
لا والله
la walla
no by God
An emphatic no, or a polite refusal of an offer.
How people reply
زين
zein
good
ماشي
maashi
OK
In a sentence
إي، أريد شاي
ee, areed chaay
Yes, I want tea
لا، شُكراً
la, shukran
No, thank you
إي طَبعاً، أجي وياك
ee tab3an, aji wiyyaak
Yes of course, I'll come with you