# ja

ja is a German adverb meaning “obviously”.

## In other languages

- Русский: да
- Українська: так

## Adverb

1. _modal · particle_ obviously; certainly; of course; as you know; as is generally known (indicates and emphasises that one is expressing an established fact)
   - Es kann ja nicht immer so bleiben. — It obviously cannot always remain so.
2. _colloquial · modal · particle_ under any circumstances, for (absolute) certain (often with the implication of pettiness, insecurity or overblown fear regarding the issue one wants certainty on)
   - Er fragt jedes Mal mindestens fünf Mal nach, um auch ja alles richtig zu machen. — Eery time, he asks to make sure at least five times to be absolutely positively sure that he does it all correctly.
3. _colloquial · modal · particle_ had better; used to reinforce an imperative or other order with an implied threat, especially by an authority figure.
   - Komm ja nicht zu spät nach Hause! — You'd better not be late in coming back home!

## Interjection

1. _modal · particle_ yes; yea; yeah; aye
   - Willst du das? Ja. — Do you want that? Yes.

## Examples

- Ja, es passiert von Zeit zu Zeit. — Yes, it happens from time to time.
- Ich habe ja nichts Besseres zu tun. — It's not like I have anything better to do.
- Du scheinst ja gut gelaunt zu sein. — You seem to be in a good mood.
- Das meinte ich ja mehr oder weniger. — Well, that's kind of my point.
- Es scheint ja schön gewesen zu sein. — It sounds like you had fun.

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Sources: Meanings and forms from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR).
URL: https://wordwide.space/de-en/wort/ja