já

Inherited from Old Czech jáz, from Proto-Slavic *azъ, from Proto-Indo-European *eǵHóm.

• IPA^(key): [ˈjaː]

• audio

  (file)

já (first person)

1. I

já n (indeclinable)

1. (psychoanalysis) ego

   Synonym: ego

• nadjá n
• ono n

• já in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• já in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
• já in Internetová jazyková příručka

From Old Norse já (“yes”), Proto-Germanic *ja (“yes”).

• IPA^(key): /jauː/
• Rhymes: -auː

já

1. yes

• jamm (informal)
• jahá (informal, joyful)

já

1. (informal) yes (as an exclamation of joy or excitement)

• jess (informal)
• jei (informal)
• jahá (informal)

From Proto-Germanic *jahw.

já

1. and

• Koponen, Eino; Ruppel, Klaas; Aapala, Kirsti, editors (2002–2008) Álgu database: Etymological database of the Saami languages‎, Helsinki: Research Institute for the Languages of Finland

From Portuguese já (“already; now”), from Old Galician-Portuguese ja, from Latin iam (“already”), from Proto-Indo-European *yē (“already”).

já

1. used in conjunction with the past tense
   • 1883, Hugo Schuchardt, Kreolische Studien, volume 3:

     Já fallou par su pai aquêl mais piquin, […]

     The youngest one told his father, […]

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• (Kautokeino) IPA^(key): /ˈjaː/

já

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

• Koponen, Eino; Ruppel, Klaas; Aapala, Kirsti, editors (2002–2008) Álgu database: Etymological database of the Saami languages‎, Helsinki: Research Institute for the Languages of Finland

From Proto-Germanic *ja (“yes”).

já

1. yes

já

1. (informal) yes (as an exclamation of joy or excitement)

• Icelandic: já
• Faroese: ja
• Norwegian Nynorsk: ja
• Old Swedish: ia, iā
  • Swedish: ja
• Danish: ja, jo
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ja

• ja (obsolete)
• jah (Internet slang)

From Old Galician-Portuguese ja, from Latin iam (“already”), from Proto-Indo-European *yē (“already”). Cognate with French jà/déjà, Italian già, and Spanish ya.

• Rhymes: -a
• Hyphenation: já

já (not comparable)

1. (usually preceding verbs in the past tense) already (indicating that something has happened before)

   Já li esse livro.

   I have already read this book.

2. (usually following verbs in the present tense) now (at this instant)

   Consigo fazer isso já.

   I can do this right now.

   Compre já!

   Buy now!

   Synonym: agora

3. (in negative sentences, preceding the adverb não) any more; any longer

   Eu já não leio mais muitos livros.

   I don’t read many books any more.

   Synonym: mais

4. (usually preceding verbs in the present tense) in a minute; soon

   Não me apresse, eu já faço isso.

   Don’t rush me, I will do this in a minute.

   Synonyms: logo; já, já

5. (preceding noun phrases) on the other hand, however

   Gosto de ler, já a minha mãe não lê nem as notícias.

   I enjoy reading, my mother, on the other hand, doesn’t even read the news.

   Synonyms: por outro lado, no entanto

6. (preceding a verb in the passive participle) ever

   O melhor bolo já feito

   The best cake ever made

In Portuguese, já is said more frequently than the English equivalents. It is sometimes left untranslated altogether.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:já.

• Angolar: dha
• Annobonese: za
• Guinea-Bissau Creole: dja
• Indo-Portuguese: já
• Kabuverdianu: dja
• Korlai Creole Portuguese: ja, ya
• Macanese: já
• Kristang: jah
• Principense: za
• Sãotomense: za