Decoding the Michigan “No yeah” and “Yeah no”

It’s all a matter of understanding the unspoken

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Videos by content creator ryanredoute, otherwise known as That Michigan Guy, have been showing up in my social media feeds. One called “No Yeah means Yeah and Yeah No means No, right?” really got me thinking about how to some folks, these are puzzling oxymorons, while to others they make perfect sense (as long as they’re used in context).

Usage

Just like saying “Yes,” or “No” in response to a question, both of these phrases, “No yeah” and “Yeah no,” are used at the beginning of a phrase to affirm or deny a preceding statement or answer a question.

For example, if Mom asks you if you want another cookie, and you do want another cookie because her cookies are the best (even though you are holding your belly), you’d respond with a “No yeah!”

If you didn’t, you’d respond with a “Yeah nooo.”

Short and to the point though these phrases might be, there’s quite a bit going on in the background.

Unspoken, assumed, and truncated affirming phrase

You want ANOTHER one of my cookies?

No yeah!

Yeah nooo.