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When I read the words "yea" or "yeah", each spelling can mean two different things.

  • An exclamation of joy, as in,

Yea[h] for ice cream!`

  • Assent, like "yep" or "yes", as in,

Yea[h], Mom, of course I fed the dogs.

The two meanings not only have different pronunciation, but they're also not differentiable using context clues. For example, folks will commonly say "Yeah" as a one-word answer in a chat or a one-word comment in a forum.

Is there a better way to spell these so as to differentiate them without context? Or, perhaps, do these two different spellings have two different meanings, and I just didn't notice?

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They are differentiated by spelling:

  • Yay [ jɛi ] (as opposed to, say, boo) is for joy and exultation;
  • Yeah [ jæ ] (synonym of yes, opposite of nah) is for ordinary assent; and
  • Yea [ jɛi ] (opposite of nay) is for formal assent during a vote.

It's just that many people type yea (or even just ya) when they mean yeah.

Outside of the U.S., yeh [ jɛ ] is also common.

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  • 2
    Yeah! What he said.
    – Orbling
    Jan 22, 2011 at 0:59
  • The pronunciation you gave for yeah is not too common, in my opinion. People often pronounce yeah with a diphthong.
    – Jimi Oke
    Jan 22, 2011 at 6:41
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    @Jimi Oke: I was simplifying. I hear /jæ/, /jɛ/, /jeə/, and /jiə/ with roughly equal frequency—and varying degrees of nasalisation—so I just chose one and went with it rather than complicate the matter. Like many of the less word-like interjections, its pronunciation is hugely dependent on accent, context, and emphasis. My interpretation may also have something to do with the fact that I don't merge merry, marry, and Mary.
    – Jon Purdy
    Jan 22, 2011 at 10:21
  • Cool. I usually go with the last two: /jeə/ and /jiə/. I also say /jæ/ and /jɛ/, but I'd most probably spell them yah and yeh!
    – Jimi Oke
    Jan 22, 2011 at 15:16
  • Yay! The first answer got it right!
    – Dan Moulding
    Jan 22, 2011 at 15:56

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