Slang dictionary
yes ma’am
or yes mam [yes mam]
What does yes ma'am mean?
Yes ma’am is a polite way of affirming something an older or superior woman has said, often used to show sass or excitement in response to something more generally.
Related words:
- no ma’am
- yes’m
- yessir
Where does yes ma’am come from?
Since at least the late 1600s,听尘补’补尘听has been a contraction of madame, a formal address for a woman of superior social status.听Madame, for the word-curious, is borrowed from French, in turn from the Latin 尘别补听诲辞尘颈苍补, or “my lady.”
By the 1800s, yes ma’am was well-established in the US as a polite affirmation, particularly expected of younger children when questioned by mothers, schoolteachers, or other older female authority figures (e.g., Yes ma’am, I’ll sit down now.)
The expression has become especially associated with the English of the South or American West, where it in many instances became shortened to yes’m.
In the 20th century, yes ma’am听extended as a humorous or friendly way to express enthusiastic agreement with someone regardless of gender (e.g., Yes ma’am, she’s a great car!). And, while originating as a polite affirmation, yes ma’am听also evolved into a rude remark.
A response of yes ma’am, apparently, had become so expected of children or inferiors that they came to issue it reflexively, insincerely, or forcibly (e.g., Yes ma’am, I’ll be absolutely sure to get on it right away) uttered under the breath or with an idea.
And so,听to听yes ma’am (and no ma’am) someone is to tell them what they want to hear so they will leave you alone. A mother, for instance, may scold a snide child, “Don’t you ‘yes ma’am’ me” if she feels the child’s affirmation is empty.
Examples of yes ma’am
Who uses yes ma’am?
In speech and writing, yes ma’am is still used as a polite affirmation to an older or superior woman. It is sometimes considered old-fashioned or childish outside the American South and Black English. Other times, it is seen as the height of good manners.
Respect will take you a long way in this world!! Just a simple 鈥測es sir, no sir/ yes ma鈥檃m, no ma鈥檃m鈥� 馃攽
鈥� Antreal Allen (@Antreal_Allen)
Outside of formal contexts, yes ma’am can add color and humor to an emphatic expression of approval, appreciation, or agreement, as if imagining an older or superior female audience.
i love pretty girls that鈥檚 on they shit… YES MA鈥橝M !
鈥� Miss Trina (@lovemesometrina)
Mother Nature told us to stop playing baseball today…
Yes ma鈥檃m.鈥� RDHS Baseball (@Mcflan12Brandon)
My English teacher just quoted one of J. Cole鈥檚 song. YES MA鈥橝M
鈥� erikaaa 馃挀 (@_erikatafolla)
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of yes ma’am like most terms we define on 亚洲网紅露点, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of yes ma’am that will help our users expand their word mastery.