Use of the Word 'YA'

[XXKWISIT]

I am confused by the word YA. it seems to be used everywhere in different contexts.

I notice on TV commercial they will say:llame ya. Which I take to mean: call now.

I notice people will use it in the colmado when they are finished asking for what they need.

Another example is: ya termino. I guess it to mean finished now?

It just seems to pop up in sentences.

Can anyone give me an exact definition?

Sorry if it's already been discussed, i tried searching with no luck.

[El Tigre]

And lately (to throw another spin at this) it's being used as SLANG. Yes, you heard it right. For example...when you say something to a tiguere like "damn, this place is pumping" he will say YA. Like saying NO NEED TO SAY MORE. That was just an example. But there are people that abuse the hell out of it. They say YA at the finish of every sentence you say while conversing. My little cousins do this to me and it drives me INSANE!!! So I have decided to put a stop to it. I correct them all the time and if they don't fix it I don't talk to them. It's become my latest pet peeve.

[bob saunders]

My mother-in-law sometimes say YA when supper is ready.

[mkohn]

How 'bout meaning "already"?

[SKing]

The way my boyfriend says it when I am arguing with him, I think he means "Enough already!!!"
"YA, Shalena,YA!!"
SHALENA

[CFA123]

It appears to be the utility knife of the spanish language.
Good question... it's a word i use without thinking about it... but perhaps i have more opportunities now that i read a little

from merriam webster

Main Entry: 1ya
Function: adverb
Language: Spanish
1 : already <ya terminó : she's finished already>
2 : now, right now <¡hazlo ya! : do it now!> <ya mismo : right away>
3 : later, soon <ya iremos : we'll go later on>
4 : no longer, anymore <ya no fuma : he no longer smokes>
5 (used for emphasis) <¡ya lo sé! : I know!> <ya lo creo : of course>
6 no ya : not only <no ya lloran sino gritan : they're not only crying but screaming>
7 ya que : now that, since <ya que sabe la verdad : now that she knows the truth>

Main Entry: 2ya
Function: conjunction
Language: Spanish
ya…ya : whether…or, first…then <ya le gusta, ya no : first he likes it, then he doesn't>

other uses
8 desde ya : right now, immediately

and one i haven't heard (or noticed) here in DR
Main Entry: chole
Function: interjection
Language: Spanish
Mexico, familiar
¡ya chole! : enough!, cut it out!


Sample usage: "Ya, toy lito!"

[Chip]

Originally Posted by CFA123

It appears to be the utility knife of the spanish language.

Yes indeed! All my daughters use it, even the 2 year old. I sometimes wish we had an English equivalent.

[jrhartley]

I pretend its a jewish word - I did it already

[XXKWISIT]

Thank you for all the replies. It all makes sense now (well, maybe not 'sense', lol, but I get it).
It just used to confuse me because I would think I had the word figured out, and then would hear someone use it in another context, but I see that there are many.

But just to recap, I can use it as 'already'? I am having a hard time finding an exact translation for 'already'. I've noticed that depending on context people will sometimes use todavia or tan temprano, but is there an exact translation or am I looking for something that does not exist?

[Ezequiel]

Originally Posted by XXKWISIT

Thank you for all the replies. It all makes sense now (well, maybe not 'sense', lol, but I get it).
It just used to confuse me because I would think I had the word figured out, and then would hear someone use it in another context, but I see that there are many.

But just to recap, I can use it as 'already'? I am having a hard time finding an exact translation for 'already'. I've noticed that depending on context people will sometimes use todavia or tan temprano, but is there an exact translation or am I looking for something that does not exist?

You need to interpret the language not translate it, that's why you are having such a hard time. You can't translate every word from English to Spanish word by word because it won't make sense or vice versa.