ya - tiny word, totally freaking me out

Question

Hi,

Can anyone point me in the direction of any resources that explain the use/uses of the word 'ya'. I'm currently living in Chile and it seems to come up all the time. Is it a specifically Chilean thing? (The little previous experience I had in Spanish was peninsular). I've had a look in the SpanishDict dictionary but I could do with something more, perhaps with examples to help me get my head around it.

Please help - I tremble in fear every time I hear/see it!

Thanks, Jayne

Answer 1

It can mean already, or now, or immediately, depending on the context. Can you give an example of a sentence that's giving you trouble?

¡Ya basta! - Enough already!

Answer 2

There are a bunch of phrases and threads here but the bottom line is that its meaning is highly context dependent: yet, still, already, now, someday, immediately, etc.

Answer 3

Thanks. Here's a few:

• Ya nada importa.
• Ya veo, ya veo.
• Ya verás que no será asi.
• Ya me contarás cómo sale todo.
• Ya te llemaré.

Also, in class ya is used after an explanation - I think to mean 'do you understand?'

That "ya" at the end of an explanation.. I guess it's said in interrogative tone? If so it's probably an abbreviation of "¿Ya lo habéis comprendido?" "Did you understand it already?" - bill1111, Oct 27, 2010

Answer 4

Here are my guesses:

Ya nada importa. -- No biggie.
Ya veo, ya veo. -- (Now) I see.
Ya verás que no será asi. -- You'll see that it's not like that.
Ya me contarás cómo sale todo. -- Call me sometime and tell me how it came out.
Ya te llemaré. -- I'll call you.

Answer 5

it means already and if you have any more questions try the dictionary here it is very reliable

Answer 6

Ya means Already I already told them at what time we are leaving, = ya les dije a que hora vamos a salir.

Are you ready? = Ya estas listo?

Is 12pm already? = son ya las 12pm?

I already saw it -> ya lo he visto