そうや

そうや
expression
that's right; yes (Kansai dialect)
informalcolloquialgrammatical
1. that's right; yes, that's so (Kansai dialect)
Kansai (especially Osaka/Kyoto) dialect equivalent of standard そうだ. Used to confirm, agree, or affirm a statement. Also used as an exclamation of sudden recollection ('Oh right!', 'That's it!').
A:「昨日(きのう)大阪(おおさか)に行(い)ったの?」B:「そうや、久(ひさ)しぶりに行(い)ってん。」
A: 'Did you go to Osaka yesterday?' B: 'Yeah, I went for the first time in a while.'
そうや!鍵(かぎ)、車(くるま)の中(なか)に忘(わす)れてきた。
Oh right! I left my keys in the car.
「そうやそうや、それが一番(いちばん)大事(だいじ)なことやんか。」
'Yes, yes, that's the most important thing, isn't it.'

Kansai dialect form of そうだ, used primarily in the Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe area. Very common in casual conversation and frequently heard in Kansai-dialect comedy and drama.

Common variants

  • そうやな: right, isn't it (= そうだね)
  • そうやんか: that's the way it is, you know
  • そうやで: yeah, that's right (emphatic)

Similar words

  • そうだ (standard): that's right — the standard Japanese equivalent
  • そうやね: similar, adds seeking-agreement nuance (→ see separate entry)

Related Words

Compare: そうだ (standard)
Related: せや (that's right (Kansai dialect))
Compare: そやね (yeah, right)
general
Added 2026.6.12 6:42 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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