How to Say Yes and No in Different Languages (with pronunciation)

This image shows two small chalkboard-style signs placed on a wooden surface. One sign reads “YES” and the other reads “NO,” both written in bold white lettering. The signs are mounted on short wooden sticks and positioned slightly apart, emphasizing contrast and choice. The wood grain background adds a rustic texture, while the black-and-white signs create strong visual clarity. The composition highlights decision-making, boundaries, and contrasting responses. The image visually represents choice, consent, and the ability to decide between acceptance and refusal. It is often used in discussions about communication, assertiveness, and personal agency.

Are you planning a trip to another country and want to be able to communicate, even on a basic level. Kick off your journey by learning how to say yes and no in different languages. 

I have to confess, I’m really bad at learning new languages which is even worse because I grew up in Cyprus and Germany. We lived on an Army base and everything around me was in English so I just didn’t need to learn. Plus I was a kid so it wasn’t something I even thought about. 

It’s a massive regret that I didn’t use that experience to become fluent in another language so now I always try to learn some of the language for all of the countries I travel to. 

We get the kids involved in this and do it together as a family. We keep it simple and stick to basic phrases like please, thank you, hello, goodbye, or counting 1-10.

Being able to speak even a few phrases in their language shows respect and immerses you into the culture you’re visiting. The kids really enjoy getting to speak a different language and it’s a great way to get kids involved in the planning for a trip. We’ve always received a warm welcome from locals, especially when it’s the kids saying sì or não. 

What’s in this post? 

In this post you can learn how to say yes and no. From Arabic to Thai we cover the spelling and pronunciation so you can be totally prepared for your travels.

Did you know that there are more than 7000 languages and over half of the world’s population speak just 23 of them?  We’ve cut this list down to 12 popular languages to learn according to the 2024 Duolingo Language Report, Babbels article on the 10 most spoken languages in the world, and the most spoken languages worldwide according to Statista.

If there’s a language on this list you need to learn first you can skip straight there by clicking on that section in the contents below. If you’re just interested in learning different languages, then scroll down to learn how to say yes and no in different languages.

Table Of Contents
  1. What’s in this post? 
  2. Arabic: Na’am and La’
  3. Bengali: Hyām̐ and Nā
  4. English: Yes and No
  5. French: Oui and Non
  6. German: Ja and Nein
  7. Hindi: Haan and Nah
  8. Italian: Sì and No
  9. Japanese: Un and Uun
  10. Korean: Eung and Ani
  11. Mandarin Chinese: Shì and Bù
  12. Portuguese: Sim and Não
  13. Spanish: Sì and No
  14. Summary: saying yes and no in different languages
  15. Read these next …

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This image shows a small stack of lined index cards resting on a textured, light turquoise surface. On the top card, handwritten in bold pink marker, are the words “It’s OK to say no.” A metallic pen lies diagonally across the cards, partially covering the text. The handwriting style feels personal and encouraging, while the bright pink lettering contrasts strongly with the soft background. The image communicates reassurance, self-care, and permission to set boundaries. The neat arrangement and calming color palette reinforce the supportive tone. This visual is often associated with mental health awareness, emotional well-being, and personal empowerment, offering a gentle reminder that saying no is valid and healthy.

Arabic: Na’am and La’

To say yes in Arabic the most commonly used phrase is “na’am”. 

To say no in Arabic the most commonly used phrase is “la’”. 

Arabic is spoken by more than 310 million native speakers, primarily across North Africa and the Middle East, with Modern Standard Arabic being most widely used in writing and formal speech.

How to pronounce na’am: “na-am” and la’: “leh”

Bengali: Hyām̐ and Nā

To say yes in Bengali the most commonly used phrase is “hyām̐”. 

To say no in Bengali the most commonly used phrase is “nā”. 

Bengali is spoken by more than 230 million people worldwide, primarily in Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal. 

How to pronounce hyām̐: “ha” and nā: “nah”

English: Yes and No

English is spoken by over 1.5 billion people worldwide. It’s the most widely spoken and recognised language in the world so learning basic phrases in English can be useful in communicating with different people around the world. 

How to pronounce yes: “y-eh-ss” and no: “n-oh”

French: Oui and Non

To say yes in French the most commonly used phrase is “oui”. 

To say no in French the most commonly used phrase is “non”. 

French is spoken by more than 275 million people worldwide, widely spoken across France, Belgium, Switzerland, parts of Canada, and many countries in Africa. 

How to pronounce oui: “we” and no: “noh”

German: Ja and Nein

To say yes in German the most commonly used phrase is “ja”. 

To say no in German the most commonly used phrase is “nein”. 

German is spoken by more than 95 million people worldwide, primarily in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Belgium and Luxembourg. 

How to pronounce ja: “yah” and no: “nine”

Hindi: Haan and Nah

To say yes in Hindi the most commonly used phrase is “haan”. 

To say no in Hindi the most commonly used phrase is “nah”. 

Hindi is spoken by over 600 million people worldwide, primarily in northern and central India, but due to Bollywood and Indian communities around the world its influence is global.

How to pronounce haan: “ha” and nah: “na”

This image shows three small wooden cubes placed side by side on a wooden surface, each cube displaying a single black letter spelling the word “YES.” The cubes are evenly spaced, and the natural wood grain is visible on both the blocks and the tabletop. The neutral tones create a clean, simple aesthetic that draws attention to the word itself. The composition suggests affirmation, agreement, and positivity. The minimal design allows the message to be easily understood without distraction. This image is commonly associated with decision-making, encouragement, or positive responses, visually reinforcing acceptance and willingness in a straightforward, approachable way.

Italian: Sì and No

To say yes in Italian the most commonly used phrase is “sì”. 

To say no in Italian the most commonly used phrase is “no”. 

Italian is spoken by around 67 million people worldwide, primarily in Italy and parts of Switzerland. 

How to pronounce sì: “see” and no: “n-oh”

Japanese: Un and Uun

To say yes in Japanese the most commonly used phrase is “un”. 

To say no in Japanese the most commonly used phrase is “uun”. 

Japanese is spoken by over 125 million people almost exclusively in Japan. Japanese culture places a lot of importance on politeness and respect so if you’re not sure which greeting to use it’s best to observe and follow the lead of how the locals greet each other. 

How to pronounce un: “oo-n” and uun: “oo-oo-n”

Korean: Eung and Ani

To say yes in Korean the most commonly used phrase is “eung”. 

To say no in Korean the most commonly used phrase is “ani”. 

Korean is spoken by more than 77 million people worldwide, mostly spoken across South and North Korea but also in Korean communities around the world. 

How to pronounce eung: “ung” and ani: “ahn-ee”

Mandarin Chinese: Shì and Bù

To say yes in Mandarin Chinese the most commonly used phrase is “shì”. 

To say no in Mandarin Chinese the most commonly used phrase is “bù”. 

Mandarin is spoken by over 920 million people worldwide. Although it’s primarily spoken in China, Taiwan, and Singapore. and is the most spoken language in the world. 

How to pronounce shì: “sh-ir” and bù: “boo”

Portuguese: Sim and Não

To say yes in Portuguese the most commonly used phrase is “sim”. 

To say no in Portuguese the most commonly used phrase is “não”. 

Portuguese is spoken by more than 220 million people worldwide and is mostly spoken in Portugal and Brazil with a few other countries 

How to pronounce sim: “sing” and não: “now”

Spanish: Sì and No

To say yes in Spanish the most commonly used phrase is “sì”. 

To say no in Spanish the most commonly used phrase is “no”. 

Spanish is spoken by more than 485 million people making it the second most spoken language by native speakers. It’s widely spoken across not only Spain but also South and Central America including Mexico, Argentina and Puerto Rico. 

How to pronounce sì: “see” and no: “n-oh”

This image shows a black chalkboard-style background with a hand-drawn megaphone sketched in white chalk on the left side. From the megaphone, chalk lines radiate outward, symbolizing sound or an announcement. To the right, the words “SAY NO” are written in bold, uppercase chalk lettering. The contrast between the dark background and bright white text makes the message visually striking and assertive. The chalk texture adds a slightly rough, authentic feel, reminiscent of classroom or workshop environments. The composition emphasizes confidence, boundaries, and self-advocacy. Overall, the image visually communicates the importance of saying no, standing firm, and using one’s voice clearly, often associated with personal boundaries, decision-making, or assertive communication.

Summary: saying yes and no in different languages

We find learning even small basic parts of a new language as a family a rewarding experience and as a plus it makes travel more engaging and educational for your kids. 

It doesn’t take much effort but it’s so worth it because it shows respect for the culture in the country you’re visiting.

Saying “yes and no” might seem like a small gesture, but mastering a few local greetings is a small effort that makes a big impact when traveling. 

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