yea

IPA/jeɪ/
KK[jˈe]IPA/jeɪ/

yea — adverb

1. used in formal voting or older writing to mean that you agree, approve, or answe

1.adverbC2
Definition

used in formal voting or older writing to mean that you agree, approve, or answer yes

Example

When the chair asked for support, Mira answered, "Yea, I approve the plan."

reply word in a formal vote

Haruto raised his hand and called "yea" during the student council vote.

Common collocations
  • say yea
  • vote yea
  • answer yea
Synonyms
  • yes

    the normal modern reply in both speech and writing

  • certainly

    sounds more deliberate and often answers a request or offer

  • indeed

    can show agreement, but it often adds emphasis instead of serving as a direct vote word

Antonyms
  • nay

    formal voting word meaning 'no'

Grammar Patterns

Yea.

yea + short statement of support

Usage Note

Common in formal votes and in older texts, not in everyday conversation. Modern speakers usually say 'yes' or 'yeah' instead.

Common Mistakes

Yea, let's get noodles after class.
Yeah, let's get noodles after class.
'yea' is formal or old-fashioned, while casual speech normally uses 'yeah'.
The clerk wrote yes beside my name in the official tally.
The clerk wrote yea beside my name in the official tally.
formal vote records often use 'yea' instead of ordinary 'yes'.

2. used in old or literary style to add a stronger point, meaning indeed or what is

2.adverbC2
Definition

used in old or literary style to add a stronger point, meaning indeed or what is more

Example

The path was steep, yea almost impossible after the night rain.

yea introduces a stronger follow-up comment

Sofia was tired, yea ready to sleep on the train floor.

Synonyms
  • indeed

    the closest modern word for adding emphasis to a statement

  • moreover

    adds another point more formally, but sounds less literary

  • even

    often marks a surprising stronger case inside the sentence rather than with a pause

Grammar Patterns

statement, yea + stronger statement

yea + adjective phrase

Usage Note

Usually appears in commas or pauses before a stronger follow-up phrase in old-fashioned writing. Distinguish from adverb/1, which directly means 'yes' instead of adding emphasis.

Common Mistakes

Yea, I finished my homework' in a casual text.
Yeah, I finished my homework.
this emphatic sense is literary and sounds unnatural in everyday messages.
The room was small, yea and bright.
The room was small, yea brighter than we expected.
this sense adds force to the same point, not just a loose extra fact.

yea — noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

'Yea' is a rare, formal, or old-fashioned way to show agreement. In modern English, 'yes' is the normal choice for almost every situation, from classrooms to meetings. 'Yeah' is the casual spoken form and fits friendly conversation, but it looks too informal in official records. 'Indeed' can agree with someone, yet it usually adds emphasis or confirmation rather than serving as a direct vote word. When a council member says 'yea', the tone sounds ceremonial or tied to written procedure. In normal life, a student says 'yes' to a teacher and 'yeah' to a friend. Use 'yea' mainly in vote counts, formal minutes, or literary imitation.

yea ↗yes ↗yeah ↗indeed ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • yea or nay

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

'Yea' is an old English word for agreement. It comes from Old English 'gēa', which is related to other early Germanic words meaning 'yes'. Modern English kept it mainly in formal voting language, older writing, and set phrases such as 'yea or nay', while everyday speech shifted toward 'yes' and later 'yeah'.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun