Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1869-1961
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YA, adv., n. Also yaa, yah, yau, yaw. [jɑ:]
I. adv. Used as a particle to indicate assent, freq. duplicated for emphasis: yes, indeed, very much so (‡Abd. 1900; I.Sc. 1974).Sh. 1869 J. T. Reid Art Rambles 32:
Yah, we gaed to the kirkyard, and brought mould frae the grave o' the last body buried, an' laid it on her breast.Edb. 1894 W. G. Stevenson Puddin' iii.:
Ya, auld man, ye ken fine ye wad like me.Sh. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. vii. 270:
Auld Daa had kaishin to mind upa dat riding o da hagries, yau, yau.Sh. 1932 J. M. E. Saxby Trad. Lore 117:
Yaw, yaw, mak de bul, but do'll no keen wha will hae him afore lang.Sh. 1961 New Shetlander No. 58. 15:
Yah, a sonsie brig, ta hae defied da toarrents a da burn aa dis years.
II. n. In phr. the yaas and naes, the outs and ins (of a story), the pros and cons.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 42:
A'm cheust no' learned enough tae tell thee a' the yaas and naes o' id.
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"Ya adv., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ya>
