What does mean 'ya'?

Question

I find that word in many different occasions and I can't really understand it's meaning. For example: Ya no es lo que ha sido/ Ya no sé qué hacer. Thank you!!

Answer 1

I wrote this out once:

"Ya" means a lot of things depending on context. In the present tense it means now or already, except in a negative construction when it means no longer:

Ya lo sé - I already know it. Ya estoy listo - Now I'm ready. Ya no trabajo allí - I no longer work there.

In the past though, it almost always means already: Ya lo hice, I already did it.

In the future, it means later: Ya lo haré - I'll do it later. Or to offer assurance: Ya verás que llegará en punto - You'll see that he'll arrive on time.

It can mean since/because: Ya que no está aquí, no pedemos empezar.

To indicate frustration: ¡Basta ya! - Enough already! ¡Ya era hora! - It's about time!

To express agreement: ¡Ya, ya! - Oh sure! Or ironic, mock agreement: Ya, y el papa es luterano. - Sure, and the Pope is Lutheran!

thank you so much!! - roda, May 24, 2011

Answer 2

Hello Roda, welcome to the forum. "Ya" can mean a number of different things (have a look in our online dictionary, above). In the case of your example, it means "No more", "no longer".

Well, I'd say that "ya no" means "no more", because the negative is given by the word "no", not "ya". - lazarus1907, May 24, 2011

Right. in this particular context. But let's say someone's bugging the heck out of you, and you want them to stop. One common expression is simply: "¡Y A!" - meaning "Stop it!" - Gekkosan, May 24, 2011

Answer 3

It has many meanings, but the most common ones are "already" (normally with preterite and present perfect) and "now" (normally with present tense). If you check a good dictionary, you'll see lots of examples.

Answer 4

Here is a previous post.

Look here