There is no exact response to Aye. The word means Yes in English. Therefore, seeking a response to Aye is like seeking a response to Yes. However, this depends on the context in which it is used.
Aye can be used as a question; Yes? When a person says Yes? the person is probably asking what you want because he/she believed you were calling. It could also be a request for confirmation.
A person can say Aye just to get you to nod or confirm something that he/she has said. There are several ways to respond to that.
However, one of the most common ways Aye is used is with What’s up? When a person comes up to you and says Aye. What’s up?, how would you respond to it?
You can respond to Aye in the following ways;
19 Ways to Respond to Aye
I’m doing great. You?
When you are approached with Aye, you can simply say you are doing great and throw the question back by asking for the person’s welfare. This is heavily dependent on how the word has been used.
If Aye has been used to mean Yes, this response will sound quite stupid. If Aye has been used to mean Really?, this wouldn’t work either. However, if the word has been used to ask about your well-being, this is a perfect response.
How do you know if you are replying to the right context? You will know that Aye has been used to ask about your welfare when a person shows up and just says it.
In some cases, the person accompanies this word with a greeting gesture. The person may also say Aye from a distance while approaching you quickly. In these three situations, Aye has been used to mean What’s up? This response will fit in.
What do you expect?
When you are greater with Aye, you can ask this rhetorical question. Like the response mentioned earlier, this response also depends on the context.
Asking this question will be found weird if Aye has been used to mean Yes. This response however fits into two contexts. Like the response mentioned earlier, this response will answer the question; What’s up?
Saying this response implies that nothing special is happening and you’re just moving on with your life. It will work better if the person saying Aye, what’s up? Is close to you. This is a kind of response you don’t say loudly.
This question can also be used to respond to a confirmation question. When a person says Aye, the person could be asking a question to know if he/she is right about a statement made earlier. You can respond with What do you expect? before giving the confirmation.
Keeping it real, man
When you are approached with Aye, you can give this response. This response does not have an exact meaning but it is used often to respond to What’s up?
This response will not work if Aye has been used to mean Yes. It won’t work either if Aye has been used to mean Really? Or Am I right? You should only give this response if the person saying Aye is using it to greet you.
If a person walks up to you, you can say this. If the person is approaching with the gesture of a handshake, you know this is the best response you can use
However, this statement can fit as a response to Really? You will know that it’s correct if you made a statement about yourself and the person appears to doubt you.
Nothing much
When you are approached with Aye, you can simply say Nothing much. This is similar to the question; What do you expect?
This response also works when Aye has been used to greet you. When a person approaches you with Aye, this response may not feel correct.
You can consider a different response. However, Aye is often used together with h What’s up? When a person says Aye, what’s up? while standing close to you, this response works perfectly.
The question asks what is going on with your life. The response implies that there’s no great story to talk about.
It’s the routine
When you are approached with Aye, you can respond by saying It’s the routine. This is similar to just saying Nothing much. If nothing much is going on or the day feels like every normal day, this is the response you are looking for.
This response does not fit in when a person says Aye to ask for confirmation. However, it may be a response related to the topic that the person has asked for confirmation on.
This response is also not right when Aye has been used to mean Yes. However, Yes is a confirmation of something you stated earlier. You can use this response to back up whatever you said earlier. It may not fit in but you will realize if it doesn’t.
This response however always answers the question What’s up? By saying this, you are telling the person nothing is up. Then you can ask about the person’s welfare too.
I’ve seen better days
When you are greeted with Aye, you can respond by saying you have seen better days. This is a statement that is widely used. It means that the day is not going great.
When you say you have seen better days, it stands as a euphemism implying that you are having a bad day.
This response answers the question What’s up? However, it doesn’t answer the question of confirmation (Really). It doesn’t work as a response to a confirmation (Yes) either.
However, this response can come after a question of confirmation if it relates to whatever topic you were discussing earlier. If not, you should pick a better response that fits into the context.
Just hanging in here
When you are greeted with Aye, you can respond by saying you are just hanging in there. This is another popular statement that is used to imply that you are having a bad day and you’re just holding on till the moment passes by.
Just like the response directly above, this sounds euphemistic. However, what you mean will be obvious. You should only use this statement to respond to What’s up?
You should also mean it if you are saying it. If you are having a good day, this response will only get you pity. The person will most likely ask what is going on with you.
This response does not answer the question of confirmation unless it is related to the topic that was discussed earlier. If not, find the perfect response to questions of confirmation on this list.
You look superb
When you are greeted with Aye, you can respond by throwing a compliment to the person. You look superb will work perfectly.
As mentioned earlier, Aye can be used in several questions. It can be used to get your attention, it can be used to say Hello, it can be used to confirm a polar question or a statement of fact, and it can be used to ask for confirmation (Really?). This response only works if Aye has been used to say Hello.
When a person greets you with Aye, you are not expected to find a specific response to Aye. Rather, you are expected to greet back. You can directly greet the person or respond with a compliment which is also a form of greeting.
I can’t complain
When you are greeted with Aye, you can respond by saying I can’t complain. This is another clause that is often used by people. In case you are not aware of what it means, it implies that the speaker is not exactly enjoying his/her day but is surviving.
This response answers the question What’s up? If you don’t seem to be enjoying your day, you can say this. You could also give a positive response if your day happens to be going smoothly. Afterward, you can throw the question back and ask about the person’s welfare.
This response may not get the person to ask what is wrong. This is because I can’t complain implies you are doing okay even though you’re not satisfied. If you are looking for the right negative response, check the other options on the list.
Staying positive
When you are greeted with Aye, you can respond by saying you are staying positive. This implies that you are doing okay and hoping for days of actual excitement. It could also mean that you are having a hard time but hoping to get out of it soon.
This response only works when you are asked What’s up? It doesn’t fit into a confirmation question unless it fits into the topic being discussed.
Not sure what you are talking about
When you are asked a question with Aye, you can say Not sure what you are talking about. This is different from all the responses suggested earlier. It does not respond to the question What’s up?
However, it may work if you don’t know what Aye means and you are simply trying to ask.
This is a proper response to Aye if it is used to ask for confirmation. You should only say this if you are not sure of what the person is talking about.
I think so
When you are asked a question with Aye, you can give this response. This is similar to the response directly above.
You can say this if you are not sure about the question being asked but you may have to be able to prove why you think so. This response does not answer the question What’s up? It would sound weird.
True
When you are asked a question with Aye, you can give this response. Any question asked with Aye is most likely a polar question so you are expected to answer with Yes or No. You can go ahead to add an explanation to your answer, however.
Saying True means you agree with whatever the person has asked for confirmation on.
Aye
When you are asked a question with Aye, you can also respond by saying Aye. However, the Aye in the question is slightly different from the one in the response.
When a question is asked with Aye, it means Yes? Or Really? When you respond with Aye, you are giving confirmation of what has been mentioned earlier. It means Yes or True.
I wasn’t there
When you are asked a question with Aye, you can respond by saying you weren’t there. When a person asks you a question with Aye, the person is asking for confirmation and a response of Yes or No is required.
You can say you weren’t there if you are not sure of the right answer. However, this doesn’t work as a response
I don’t know what you’re talking about
When you are asked a question with Aye, you can respond with this statement. You are being asked to confirm what a person has stated earlier. If you are not sure what the person is talking about, this is what you should say.
Come again?
When you are asked a question with Aye, you can respond with this. This implies that you didn’t hear what the person mentioned earlier.
A confirmation question requires you to say Yes or No but you should be careful not to answer wrongly. If you are not sure of what is being discussed, you can simply say this.
I didn’t get you
When you are asked a question with Aye and you are not sure of what is being discussed, you can say this. This implies that you need the person to repeat himself or herself before you give the right answer.
No. You’re wrong
When you are asked a question with Aye, you can respond by saying No. You should only say this if you believe the person is wrong. If you are not sure of your answer, you can simply say it.
Saying No implies that you are sure that the person is wrong and you will be required to say what is right.