5 ms·

I always understand it to be missing the word actually: "yes, actually no" "no, actually yes"

• jackvalentine 7y ago
  Yeah nah that's true some of the time I guess but 'yeah' isn't yes, it's an acknowledgement that I've heard your prior statement and considered it. Rephrasing it as yes, 'actually no' makes it sound like the speaker is indecisive which yeah nah does not communicate. It's a a social nicety to smooth over hurt feelings. That of course is until you use it with an affirmative 'yeah nah yeah you're right' or similar.
• astrobe_ 7y ago
  We (maybe it's just a local thing, though) say sometimes "oui mais non!" ("yes but no!") for when you agree with the premises but not the conclusion. It is generally said with a smile, or makes people smile or laugh.
  • Biganon 7y ago
    There's even a song by Mylène Farmer called "Oui mais non"