āe / kāo

Answering Yes and No

Level 1

Āe and kāo answer yes and no.

How It Works

Āe confirms and kāo gives a negative response in an ordinary positive yes/no exchange. They are useful short turns in conversation.

For a full statement, choose a clause frame: Kāore au i haere, I did not go. Do not put kāo before a positive clause as a universal way to negate it. Negative questions also require attention to what exactly the answer confirms.

Examples (3)

  1. Kei te pai koe? Āe.

    Are you well? Yes.

  2. I haere koe? Kāo.

    Did you go? No.

  3. Kei te haere koe? Āe, kei te haere au.

    Are you going? Yes, I am going.