yay

¹ American  

[yey] / yeɪ /

interjection

Informal.

1. (an exclamation used to express joy, excitement, etc.)

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yay ² American  

[yey] / yeɪ /

Or yea

adverb

Informal.

1. to the extent, amount, etc., indicated.

   The doll is about yay high.

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yay British  

/ jeɪ /

interjection

1. informal an exclamation indicating approval, congratulation, or triumph

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Etymology

Origin of yay¹

First recorded in 1960–65; perhaps alteration of yeah

Origin of yay²

Probably < yea

Example Sentences

I hadn't thought about it till it came out in the press, so yay, yay for me.

From Barron's • Jan. 17, 2026

It’s saying, “Oh, yay, I get to flunk another math test this week,” when what you mean is that you are freaked out about your consistently terrible grades in math class.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2024

The party did not hold a vote when its officers met last week, but it had initially been described to BBC News NI by one source as a "yay or nay" meeting.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2024

Roy runs into Phoebe’s teacher — yay, Phoebe, genuinely and always — and she says he seemed “stuck” the last time they spoke, which evidently serves to immediately unstick him.

From New York Times • May 17, 2023

Another boat song: "Quee yay hanno ha.—Quee yay hanno ha."

From Account of a Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-Choo Island by Hall, Basil