sí
Lemma Details
Translation: yes; indeed; certainly
Part of Speech: adverb
Etymology: Derived from Latin 'sic' meaning 'thus, so, in this manner'. The Latin term evolved into 'sí' in Spanish as an affirmative response. This evolution parallels other Romance languages like Italian 'sì' and French 'si' (used for contradicting negative statements). The English cognate would be 'so' which can sometimes function as an affirmative in certain contexts.
Commonality: 100%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of saying 'see' (which sounds like 'sí') when you see something you agree with.
- The accent mark points up like a nod of the head when saying 'yes'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking cultures, 'sí' is often accompanied by nonverbal cues like nodding. In some regions, particularly in Spain, people might use 'sí, sí, sí' in rapid succession to show strong agreement or enthusiasm. In formal situations, it might be expanded to 'sí, por favor' (yes, please) or 'sí, gracias' (yes, thank you).
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Sí' (with accent) means 'yes', while 'si' (without accent) means 'if' or 'whether'. The accent mark is crucial for distinguishing between these two common words.
Notes: The accent on 'sí' is not just decorative but serves a crucial grammatical function to distinguish it from the conditional 'si'.
Mnemonic: The accent mark on 'sí' points UP like a nod for 'yes', while 'si' without accent is flat like a conditional statement.
Explanation: 'Sí' means 'yes', while 'ti' is a prepositional pronoun meaning 'you'.
Confused word:
Este regalo es para ti.
This gift is for you.
Notes: Both are short, common words but serve completely different grammatical functions.
Mnemonic: 'Sí' has an 's' like 'yes' starts with a 'y', while 'ti' is about 'you'.