Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

yes, virginia

/ˈjɛs vəɹˈd͡ʒɪn.jə/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.57 in modern English

Syllables: yes, Vir-gin-ia
IPA: /ˈjɛs vəɹˈd͡ʒɪn.jə/

18

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Used to express that something is true, despite skepticism by some people.

Humorous

Example Sentences

"Yes, Virginia, there IS a speed limit at Broome Tech, and all violators will be duly punished."
"Yes, Virginia, there is a presidential election in 1984—and it has begun: A former Vice President goes ice fishing and poses with a puny perch dangling from his line. A 68-year-old Senator dons athletic shorts and runs a 60-yd. dash in a San Francisco track meet. […] Such hijinks can mean only one thing: the quadrennial silly season has started again."
"He [David Bradford] is perhaps the nation's preeminent tax scholar. And yes, Virginia, the president and the Congress have disregarded most of what he has to say."

Etymology

From a celebrated line in an editorial on September 27, 1897, by the American journalist Francis Pharcellus Church (1839–1906) in The Sun newspaper published in New York City, in response to eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon asking whether Santa Claus was real: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.”

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈjɛs vəɹˈd͡ʒɪn.jə/
British English: /ˈjɛs vəˈd͡ʒɪn.i.ə/

Usage

Humorous

Questions

How do you pronounce yes, virginia?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈjɛs vəɹˈd͡ʒɪn.jə/.
What does yes, virginia mean?: Used to express that something is true, despite skepticism by some people.
Where does yes, virginia come from?: From a celebrated line in an editorial on September 27, 1897, by the American journalist Francis Pharcellus Church (1839–1906) in The Sun newspaper published in New York City, in response to eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon asking whether Santa Claus was real: “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.”

How to pronounce yes, virginia

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