yebo, adverb

Forms:
yaabô, yearboShow more Also yaabô, yearbo, yeh baw, yeh-bo.
Origin:
IsiZulu.
‘Yes’, ‘I agree’. a. Quoting or representing the word as spoken in isiZulu. b. colloquial. As a general term of assent, agreement, or acknowledgement; hence yebo interjection. Cf. ehe.
1836 A.F. Gardiner Journey to Zoolu Country 91Baba — (Father) used in reply, as ‘Yearbo Baba,’ ‘Yes, Father.’
1855 J.W. Colenso Ten Weeks in Natal 134There was a general assent of ‘Yebo,’ Yes, to this, expressing great satisfaction.
1875 D. Leslie Among Zulus 80He was greeted with a perfect storm of ‘Bayete’ and ‘Yebo Baba.’
1898 B. Mitford Induna’s Wife 27Yeh-bo — I see it all — the angry infuriated countenance of Umzilikazi, the dread anxiety on the faces of the other izinduna.
1923 G.H. Nicholls Bayete! 224Those who are in favour of the strike must answer: ‘Yebo!’ Those..against..will answer ‘Ca!’
1937 C. Birkby Zulu Journey 121‘Yebo, inkosi!’ the old Zulu headman raised his right hand in courteous agreement with the Native Commissioner’s words.
1952 Drum Mar. 7For a moment nobody answered..then some said ‘Yebo Nkosi.’
1967 S.M.A. Lowe Hungry Veld 96Nena ate well and said little...‘Did you enjoy it?’ Lucy asked of her. ‘Yebo,’ she answered, ‘I was hungry.’
1982 W.O. KwaMthetwa in Staffrider Vol.5 No.2, 7‘Yebo mfowethu,’ responded Pikinini.
1985 H. Prendini in Style 39You’ll hear them (especially the Natal chaps)..muttering ‘aikona!’ or ‘yebo!’ depending on whether they agree or not.
1991 Personality 18 Mar. 14Let’s get down to a bit of hard core rugger-bugger talk...Everyone says ‘yeh baw’ a lot.
Quoting or representing the word as spoken in isiZulu.
As a general term of assent, agreement, or acknowledgement; hence yebo interjection.
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18361991