Traditional
Still common
Definition
A soft "no" - or sometimes a soft "yes" - depending on tone.
Example Sentence
"Keen for a swim?" "Yeah nah, bit cold today."
Where "Yeah Nah" Comes From
"Yeah nah" (and its reverse, "nah yeah") grew out of the Australian habit of cushioning a direct answer, acknowledging what was said before gently disagreeing or agreeing.
Linguists have tracked its rise in casual Australian and New Zealand speech since the late 20th century as a distinct phrase rather than a slip of the tongue.
How Aussies Actually Use It
"Yeah nah" usually means no, softened by first agreeing with the sentiment behind the question.
Flip the order to "nah yeah" and it usually means yes, with a touch of hesitation first.
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