Yes
نَعَم
naʿam
Yes.
Yes and no in Arabic, na'am and la
Yes in Arabic is naʿam (نَعَم) and no is lā (لَا). They never change for a man or a woman. Arabic also has balā, a special "yes" for answering a negative question, which the Quran uses.
Other ways to say it
No
لَا
lā
No.
No, thank you
لَا، شُكْرًا
lā, shukran
No, thank you.
Yes, certainly
أَجَل
ajal
Yes, indeed. A little formal.
Yes (to a negative question)
بَلَى
balā
Yes, it is so. The answer to "isn't it?" questions.
Of course
طَبْعًا
ṭabʿan
Of course.
Maybe
رُبَّمَا
rubbamā
Maybe, perhaps.
From the Sunnah and the Quran
Balā in the QuranIn the Quran
أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۛ شَهِدْنَآ
alastu bi Rabbikum qaaloo balaa shahidnaaa
"Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified."
Quran 7:172, part of the ayah, translation by Sahih International
Modern Standard Arabic, with the vowel marks. Our teachers will check the Arabic and transliteration on this page before launch.
Guide
Yes and no in Arabic, meaning and use
To say yes in Arabic, say naʿam (نَعَم). To say no, say lā (لَا). Neither one changes for a man, a woman or a group. To turn something down politely, say lā, shukran, "no, thank you".
Two kinds of yes
Arabic has a yes that English lacks. Naʿam agrees with a question: "Is it raining?" "Naʿam, it is." Balā answers a negative question by saying the opposite is true: "Isn't it raining?" "Balā", yes, it is. If you answered naʿam to that question, you would be agreeing that it is not raining.
The most famous balā is in the Quran. Allah asked the souls of the children of Adam, "Am I not your Lord?", and they said "balā", yes, You are (7:172). Muslims see in that answer the natural faith every person is born with.
More useful words
- Ajal: yes, indeed. Formal.
- Ṭabʿan: of course.
- Rubbamā: maybe.
- Lā, shukran: no, thank you.
- Lā baʾs: no problem, it's fine.
Yes, inshaAllah
When a Muslim agrees to do something later, they add inshaAllah, "if Allah wills". The Quran teaches: "never say of anything, 'Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,' except [when adding], 'If Allah wills'" (18:23 to 24). Some people use inshaAllah to mean a soft no. That is not its meaning: it should go with a real intention to do it.
- Quran 7:172 and 18:23 to 24, translation by Sahih International.
Questions
Good to know
How do you say yes in Arabic?
Na'am (نَعَم). In Egypt and the Levant, people usually say aywa.
How do you say no in Arabic?
La (لَا). No, thank you is la, shukran.
What is the difference between na'am and bala?
Na'am agrees with a question. Bala answers a negative question (isn't it?) to say yes, it is.
What does aywa mean?
Yes, in Egyptian and Levantine Arabic.