yaya

See also: Yaya; yaya'; yayá; ya, ya; 'ya'ya; ƴaƴa; and ya-ya

English

Etymology 1

From Tagalog yaya.

Noun

yaya (plural yayas)

1. (Philippines) A nanny.
   • 2020 June 3, William Meny, “Witches” (4:25 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows‎^[1], season 2, episode 9, spoken by Nadja (Natasia Demetriou):

     “Can you not make this carriage move faster? You're moving slower than when my yaya tried to ride a snail to the next village.”

Etymology 2

Unknown.

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): /ˈjɑjɑ/

Verb

yaya (invariable)

1. (Singlish) To show off or behave in an egocentric or self-important manner.

Adjective

yaya (comparative more yaya, superlative most yaya)

1. (Singlish) Arrogant, stuck-up.

Derived terms

• yaya papaya

References

• Lee, Jack Tsen-Ta (2004) “yaya”, in A Dictionary of Singlish and Singapore English

Aguaruna

Noun

yaya

1. star

Bikol Central

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: ya‧ya
• IPA^(key): /ˈjaja/ [ˈja.ja]

Noun

yaya

1. a weak feeling in the limbs

Derived terms

• mayaya

 

Cebuano

Etymology 1

Unknown.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: ya‧ya
• IPA^(key): /ˈjaʔjaʔ/ [ˈjaʔ.jɐʔ]

Adjective

yaya

1. slow
2. clumsy
3. stretched out

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Spanish yaya (“granny”). Compare Catalan iaia.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: ya‧ya
• IPA^(key): /ˈjaja/ [ˈja.jɐ]

Noun

yaya

1. (sometimes derogatory) a nanny
2. an address to one's nanny

Verb

yaya

1. to work or act as a nanny

Etymology 3

Unknown.

Noun

yaya

1. a tree, Gonocaryum calleryanum

Quotations

For quotations using this term, see Citations:yaya.

Choctaw

Verb

yaya

1. to cry

Ibanag

Pronoun

yaya

1. he; she

Japanese

Romanization

yaya

1. Rōmaji transcription of やや

Manchu

Romanization

yaya

1. Romanization of ᠶᠠᠶᠠ

Masbatenyo

Noun

yaya

1. nursemaid; babysitter

Nupe

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jà.já/

Noun

yàyá

1. senior
2. elder cousin

Old Javanese

Conjunction

yaya

1. as if

Quechua

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈja.ja/

Noun

yaya

1. father

   Synonyms: tayta, tata

   Coordinate term: mama (“mother”)

2. chief, elder
3. priest
4. (arcaic) God

Declension

declension of yaya

	singular	plural
nominative	yaya	yayakuna
accusative	yayata	yayakunata
dative	yayaman	yayakunaman
genitive	yayap	yayakunap
locative	yayapi	yayakunapi
terminative	yayakama	yayakunakama
ablative	yayamanta	yayakunamanta
instrumental	yayawan	yayakunawan
comitative	yayantin	yayakunantin
abessive	yayannaq	yayakunannaq
comparative	yayahina	yayakunahina
causative	yayarayku	yayakunarayku
benefactive	yayapaq	yayakunapaq
associative	yayapura	yayakunapura
distributive	yayanka	yayakunanka
exclusive	yayalla	yayakunalla

possessive forms of yaya

ñuqap - first-person singular

ñuqap (my)	singular	plural
nominative	yayay	yayaykuna
accusative	yayayta	yayaykunata
dative	yayayman	yayaykunaman
genitive	yayaypa	yayaykunap
locative	yayaypi	yayaykunapi
terminative	yayaykama	yayaykunakama
ablative	yayaymanta	yayaykunamanta
instrumental	yayaywan	yayaykunawan
comitative	yayaynintin	yayaykunantin
abessive	yayayninnaq	yayaykunannaq
comparative	yayayhina	yayaykunahina
causative	yayayrayku	yayaykunarayku
benefactive	yayaypaq	yayaykunapaq
associative	yayaypura	yayaykunapura
distributive	yayayninka	yayaykunanka
exclusive	yayaylla	yayaykunalla

qampa - second-person singular

qampa (your)	singular	plural
nominative	yayayki	yayaykikuna
accusative	yayaykita	yayaykikunata
dative	yayaykiman	yayaykikunaman
genitive	yayaykipa	yayaykikunap
locative	yayaykipi	yayaykikunapi
terminative	yayaykikama	yayaykikunakama
ablative	yayaykimanta	yayaykikunamanta
instrumental	yayaykiwan	yayaykikunawan
comitative	yayaykintin	yayaykikunantin
abessive	yayaykinnaq	yayaykikunannaq
comparative	yayaykihina	yayaykikunahina
causative	yayaykirayku	yayaykikunarayku
benefactive	yayaykipaq	yayaykikunapaq
associative	yayaykipura	yayaykikunapura
distributive	yayaykinka	yayaykikunanka
exclusive	yayaykilla	yayaykikunalla

paypa - third-person singular

paypa (his/her/its)	singular	plural
nominative	yayan	yayankuna
accusative	yayanta	yayankunata
dative	yayanman	yayankunaman
genitive	yayanpa	yayankunap
locative	yayanpi	yayankunapi
terminative	yayankama	yayankunakama
ablative	yayanmanta	yayankunamanta
instrumental	yayanwan	yayankunawan
comitative	yayanintin	yayankunantin
abessive	yayanninnaq	yayankunannaq
comparative	yayanhina	yayankunahina
causative	yayanrayku	yayankunarayku
benefactive	yayanpaq	yayankunapaq
associative	yayanpura	yayankunapura
distributive	yayaninka	yayankunanka
exclusive	yayanlla	yayankunalla

ñuqanchikpa - first-person inclusive plural

ñuqanchikpa (our(incl))	singular	plural
nominative	yayanchik	yayanchikkuna
accusative	yayanchikta	yayanchikkunata
dative	yayanchikman	yayanchikkunaman
genitive	yayanchikpa	yayanchikkunap
locative	yayanchikpi	yayanchikkunapi
terminative	yayanchikkama	yayanchikkunakama
ablative	yayanchikmanta	yayanchikkunamanta
instrumental	yayanchikwan	yayanchikkunawan
comitative	yayanchiknintin	yayanchikkunantin
abessive	yayanchikninnaq	yayanchikkunannaq
comparative	yayanchikhina	yayanchikkunahina
causative	yayanchikrayku	yayanchikkunarayku
benefactive	yayanchikpaq	yayanchikkunapaq
associative	yayanchikpura	yayanchikkunapura
distributive	yayanchikninka	yayanchikkunanka
exclusive	yayanchiklla	yayanchikkunalla

ñuqaykup - first-person exclusive plural

ñuqaykup (our(excl))	singular	plural
nominative	yayayku	yayaykukuna
accusative	yayaykuta	yayaykukunata
dative	yayaykuman	yayaykukunaman
genitive	yayaykupa	yayaykukunap
locative	yayaykupi	yayaykukunapi
terminative	yayaykukama	yayaykukunakama
ablative	yayaykumanta	yayaykukunamanta
instrumental	yayaykuwan	yayaykukunawan
comitative	yayaykuntin	yayaykukunantin
abessive	yayaykunnaq	yayaykukunannaq
comparative	yayaykuhina	yayaykukunahina
causative	yayaykurayku	yayaykukunarayku
benefactive	yayaykupaq	yayaykukunapaq
associative	yayaykupura	yayaykukunapura
distributive	yayaykunka	yayaykukunanka
exclusive	yayaykulla	yayaykukunalla

qamkunap - second-person plural

qamkunap (your(pl))	singular	plural
nominative	yayaykichik	yayaykichikkuna
accusative	yayaykichikta	yayaykichikkunata
dative	yayaykichikman	yayaykichikkunaman
genitive	yayaykichikpa	yayaykichikkunap
locative	yayaykichikpi	yayaykichikkunapi
terminative	yayaykichikkama	yayaykichikkunakama
ablative	yayaykichikmanta	yayaykichikkunamanta
instrumental	yayaykichikwan	yayaykichikkunawan
comitative	yayaykichiknintin	yayaykichikkunantin
abessive	yayaykichikninnaq	yayaykichikkunannaq
comparative	yayaykichikhina	yayaykichikkunahina
causative	yayaykichikrayku	yayaykichikkunarayku
benefactive	yayaykichikpaq	yayaykichikkunapaq
associative	yayaykichikpura	yayaykichikkunapura
distributive	yayaykichikninka	yayaykichikkunanka
exclusive	yayaykichiklla	yayaykichikkunalla

paykunap - third-person plural

paykunap (their)	singular	plural
nominative	yayanku	yayankukuna
accusative	yayankuta	yayankukunata
dative	yayankuman	yayankukunaman
genitive	yayankupa	yayankukunap
locative	yayankupi	yayankukunapi
terminative	yayankukama	yayankukunakama
ablative	yayankumanta	yayankukunamanta
instrumental	yayankuwan	yayankukunawan
comitative	yayankuntin	yayankukunantin
abessive	yayankunnaq	yayankukunannaq
comparative	yayankuhina	yayankukunahina
causative	yayankurayku	yayankukunarayku
benefactive	yayankupaq	yayankukunapaq
associative	yayankupura	yayankukunapura
distributive	yayankunka	yayankukunanka
exclusive	yayankulla	yayankukunalla

Spanish

Etymology

Perhaps from Modern Greek γιαγιά (giagiá, “grandmother”). Or more likely simply a feminine of yayo (see there for further etymology).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ˈʝaʝa/ [ˈɟ͡ʝa.ʝa]

• IPA^(key): (everywhere but Argentina and Uruguay) /ˈʝaʝa/ [ˈɟ͡ʝa.ʝa]
• IPA^(key): (Buenos Aires and environs) /ˈʃaʃa/ [ˈʃa.ʃa]
• IPA^(key): (elsewhere in Argentina and Uruguay) /ˈʒaʒa/ [ˈʒa.ʒa]

• Rhymes: -aʝa
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

yaya f (plural yayas)

1. granny, gran
2. (Philippines) girl or woman employed to take care of children

Related terms

• yayo

 

Further reading

• “yaya”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10

Swahili

Etymology

Uncertain, but possibly from Portuguese aia (“maid”) or an Indian language, such as Hindi आया (āyā, “dry nurse, nanny”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

yaya class V (plural mayaya class VI)

1. nanny, babysitter, ayah

Tagalog

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Spanish yaya (“granny”). Compare with Cebuano yaya, Catalan iaia.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈjaja/ [ˈjaː.jɐ]
• Rhymes: -aja
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

yaya (masculine yayo, Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ)

1. nanny; nursemaid; amah; girl or woman employed to take care of children

   Synonym: ama

2. wet nurse

   Synonyms: sisiwa, mamay

3. (by extension) helper; maid

   Synonyms: katulong, kasambahay, utusan, kriyada

Etymology 2

Compare anyaya (“invitation”).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈjajaʔ/ [ˈjaː.jɐʔ]
• Rhymes: -ajaʔ
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

yayà (Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ)

1. invitation; request; persuasion; inducement

   Synonyms: pagyaya, anyaya, imbitasyon, kayag, kumbida, yakag

2. person invited (to come to a certain place or to help do something)

Alternative forms

• aya

Derived terms

• magyaya
• magyayaan
• mayaya
• pagyaya
• yayaan
• yayain
• yumaya

 

Related terms

• anyaya

Adjective

yayà (Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ)

1. invited personally to help do certain work

   Synonyms: yakag, niyakag

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /jaˈja/ [jɐˈja]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

yayá (Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ) (obsolete)

1. driving away or shooing maya birds

   Synonyms: bugaw, wasiwas, hiyaw, sibok

Derived terms

• mapayaya
• yayahan
• yumaya

 

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /jaˈjaʔ/ [jɐˈjaʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ
• Syllabification: ya‧ya

Noun

yayâ (Baybayin spelling ᜌᜌ) (obsolete)

1. name of the Baybayin letter ᜌ, corresponding to "ya"

See also

• ya

 

Further reading

• “yaya”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018
• San Buena Ventura, Fr. Pedro de (1613) Juan de Silva, editor, Vocabulario de lengua tagala: El romance castellano puesto primero‎^[2], La Noble Villa de Pila
  • page 171: “Combidar) Yaya (pp) llamando ꝑa combite fieſta o otra coſa”
  • page 396: “Llamar) Yaya (pp) combidando ꝑa algo”
  • page 437: “Munir) Yaya (pp) juntando la gente”
  • page 605: “Y) Yaya (pc) letra de la eſcritura tagala .|. yaya yaon .|. ᜌ . aba ſuſulat aco nang yaya ? quieres q̃ eſcriua vna .y. de Indio? [yba din] ang yaya dito nang ſa Manila, vna y es [la de] aqui u otra đ M.”

Ternate

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈja.ja]

Noun

yaya

1. mother

   Synonym: hera

References

• Rika Hayami-Allen (2001) A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh

Turkish

Etymology

Inherited from Ottoman Turkish یایا (yaya).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jaja/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

yaya (definite accusative yayayı, plural yayalar)

1. pedestrian; someone walking, instead of using a vehicle
2. (military, historical) foot soldier

Declension

Inflection
Nominative	yaya
Definite accusative	yayayı
	Singular	Plural
Nominative	yaya	yayalar
Definite accusative	yayayı	yayaları
Dative	yayaya	yayalara
Locative	yayada	yayalarda
Ablative	yayadan	yayalardan
Genitive	yayanın	yayaların
Possessive forms Nominative Singular Plural 1st singular yayam yayalarım 2nd singular yayan yayaların 3rd singular yayası yayaları 1st plural yayamız yayalarımız 2nd plural yayanız yayalarınız 3rd plural yayaları yayaları Definite accusative Singular Plural 1st singular yayamı yayalarımı 2nd singular yayanı yayalarını 3rd singular yayasını yayalarını 1st plural yayamızı yayalarımızı 2nd plural yayanızı yayalarınızı 3rd plural yayalarını yayalarını Dative Singular Plural 1st singular yayama yayalarıma 2nd singular yayana yayalarına 3rd singular yayasına yayalarına 1st plural yayamıza yayalarımıza 2nd plural yayanıza yayalarınıza 3rd plural yayalarına yayalarına Locative Singular Plural 1st singular yayamda yayalarımda 2nd singular yayanda yayalarında 3rd singular yayasında yayalarında 1st plural yayamızda yayalarımızda 2nd plural yayanızda yayalarınızda 3rd plural yayalarında yayalarında Ablative Singular Plural 1st singular yayamdan yayalarımdan 2nd singular yayandan yayalarından 3rd singular yayasından yayalarından 1st plural yayamızdan yayalarımızdan 2nd plural yayanızdan yayalarınızdan 3rd plural yayalarından yayalarından Genitive Singular Plural 1st singular yayamın yayalarımın 2nd singular yayanın yayalarının 3rd singular yayasının yayalarının 1st plural yayamızın yayalarımızın 2nd plural yayanızın yayalarınızın 3rd plural yayalarının yayalarının
Predicative forms Singular Plural 1st singular yayayım yayalarım 2nd singular yayasın yayalarsın 3rd singular yaya yayadır yayalar yayalardır 1st plural yayayız yayalarız 2nd plural yayasınız yayalarsınız 3rd plural yayalar yayalardır

Related terms

• yayan

References

• Avery, Robert et al., editors (2013), The Redhouse Dictionary Turkish/Ottoman English, 21st edition, Istanbul: Sev Yayıncılık, →ISBN

West Makian

Etymology

Together with the polite baba (“father”), likely borrowed from Ternate yaya (“mother”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈja.ja/

Noun

yaya

1. mother

Usage notes

The term yaya is used for addressing one's mother, whereas the terms mama and mamu are used for referring to a mother.

References

• Clemens Voorhoeve (1982) The Makian languages and their neighbours‎^[3], Pacific linguistics