Dictionary / Yes
How to Say "Yes" in French
Oui
/wi/
Literally: Yes
Oui
yes
Good to know
Oui is neutral. Ouais is the casual yeah and is fine with friends but slightly slack with strangers. Oui, tout à fait and oui, bien sûr are the polite reinforcements.
Correct
Oui
What people say wrong
Oui (in answer to a negative question)
reads as agreeing with the negative
The mistake to avoid. French has a second word for yes and English has no equivalent, so learners never think to look for it. When you contradict a negative statement or answer a negative question, oui is wrong and you need si. Asked tu n'aimes pas le fromage ?, answering oui agrees that you don't like cheese; answering si means yes I do. English does this with stress and tone instead, which is why the distinction is invisible until someone points it out. This is also the reason si instead of oui is one of the most asked questions about French.
In context
— Tu n'aimes pas le fromage ? — Si, j'adore ça !
"You don't like cheese?" "Yes I do, I love it!"
— Tu viens ? — Oui, j'arrive.
"Are you coming?" "Yes, I'm on my way."
— Ce n'est pas possible. — Si, ça l'est.
"That's not possible." "Yes it is."