Answering Yes and No

Level 1

ʻAe is yes and ʻaʻole is no. A yes-or-no question can be asked by raising your voice.

How It Works

A question that expects yes or no can use the same words as a sentence. Your voice shows it is a question (Wikipedia). Written, it ends in a question mark.

QuestionAnswer
He haumāna ʻoe?ʻAe, he haumāna au.
He pōpoki kēlā?ʻAʻole, he ʻīlio.

Both answers start with an ʻokina. The Reference Grammar also describes a little word anei that marks a yes-or-no question. Voice alone is enough to begin with.

Examples (5)

  1. He haumāna ʻoe? ʻAe.

    Are you a student? Yes.

    ʻAe answers yes.

  2. He pōpoki kēlā? ʻAʻole, he ʻīlio.

    Is that a cat? No, it is a dog.

    ʻAʻole answers no, and a short sentence follows.

  3. Ke ʻai nei ʻoe i ka palaoa? ʻAe, ke ʻai nei au.

    Are you eating the bread? Yes, I am eating it.

    The answer can repeat the verb phrase.

  4. Wela ke kope? ʻAʻole.

    Is the coffee hot? No.

    A describing word can start a question.

  5. Maikaʻi ka wai? ʻAe, maikaʻi.

    Is the water good? Yes, it is good.

    The describing word can also be the answer.

How It Connects

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

Answering Yes and NoLevel 1

Learn This First

The answer words depend on knowing ʻaʻole.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

ʻaeʻaʻole