jah / ei

Saying Yes and No

Level 1

Kas sa tuled? – Jah, tulen. / Ei, ma ei tule.

How It Works

Yes. jah is the standard word, and in speech you also hear jaa. For a warmer yes, say muidugi (of course) or kindlasti (definitely). Avoid absoluutselt as a plain yes. It copies English absolutely, and Estonian language guides advise against it.

No. ei is both no and the negative word, so a full no often uses it twice: Ei, ma ei tule. To turn down an offer politely, say Ei, aitäh. (No, thank you.) See Please and Thank You.

Echo the verb. The most natural short answer repeats the verb from the question, in the right person: Kas sa räägid eesti keelt? – Räägin. or Ei räägi. With olema: On. or Ei ole. See Negative of olema and Negation with ei. A one-word pronoun answer uses the long form: Kas sina tegid selle? – Jah, mina.

Negative questions. After Kas sa ei tule? a bare jah is unclear: it can sound like agreeing that you are not coming. Say Tulen küll! to contradict, or Ei tule. to confirm. See Yes to a Negative (küll).

Examples (6)

  1. Kas sa tuled? – Jah, tulen.

    Are you coming? – Yes, I am.

  2. Kas sa tuled? – Ei, ma ei tule.

    Are you coming? – No, I'm not.

    ei appears twice: once as no and once to negate the verb.

  3. Kas sa räägid eesti keelt? – Natuke räägin.

    Do you speak Estonian? – A little.

    The answer repeats the verb.

  4. Kas ta on kodus? – Ei ole.

    Is he home? – No, he isn't.

    A short no to an olema question is Ei ole.

  5. Kas sa tahad teed? – Ei, aitäh.

    Do you want some tea? – No, thank you.

  6. Kas sa ei tule? – Tulen küll!

    Aren't you coming? – Yes, I am!

    küll contradicts a negative question.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the personal ending in a negative answer.

    Kas sa tuled? – Ei, ma ei tulen.
    Kas sa tuled? – Ei, ma ei tule.

    After ei the verb has no personal ending.

  • Answering a negative question with a bare jah when you mean yes, I am coming.

    Kas sa ei tule? – Jah.
    Kas sa ei tule? – Tulen küll!

    A bare jah can sound like agreement with the negative. Repeat the verb with küll to make your yes clear.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

jah / eiLevel 1Saying Yes and No

Learn This First

Answers follow yes-no questions and use the negative.

Words in This Pattern

jaa