Where does “yes” come from?

yes (Dutch) comes from English yes, from Middle English yes, from Old English ġīese — "yes"; literally, "so be it".

yes (Dutch): yay

Definitions

  1. yay

Ancestry of “yes”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishyesUsed to show agreement or acceptance; Used to...
2Middle EnglishyesAlternative form of is; plural of ye; Alternative...
3Old Englishġīese"yes"; literally, "so be it"
Every word from Old English ġīese →Every word from Middle English yes →Every word from English yes →