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Glite Dictionary
aye aye

aye aye

35 9.2
A short reply by sailors to show they understand and will follow an order
  • idiom
  • /ˈaɪ ˈaɪ/
  • Jargon
translation icon : a sus órdenes
  • When the captain ordered to lower the sails, the crew responded, "Aye, aye, sir!"
  • aye aye, sir
  • aye aye, captain
  • aye aye, ma'am

Examples

  • "Aye, aye, skipper," Dan said.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Another voice responded, "Aye, aye, sir."

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "Do it!" "Aye, aye, sir!"

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I yelled, "Aye, aye, sir."

    Fiction book (2001)

  • "Nefer, pop the shuttle lock and cycle our guest through." "Aye, aye, sir."

    Fiction book (1991)

  • "Draft a top-secret message directing him to keep his people ready to shoot." "Aye, aye, sir."

    Fiction book (2000)

  • "Aye, aye, Skipper," Mustang's voice came back into my ear.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • - Aye, aye, sir.

    The Rock (1996)

  • "Aye, aye, captain."

    Ghost Ship (2002)

  • Hands: Aye, aye, Cap'n Hawkins!

    Fiction book (2000)

Synonyms

aye aye, sir
vsaye aye
  • Jargon
5 9.0

A short reply that shows you hear an order and will do it

is a naval reply showing understanding and compliance with an order
yessir
vsaye aye
  • Informal
1 8.9

A short informal way to say yes to someone in charge showing respect

is a naval acknowledgement that formally signals understanding and compliance
kay
vsaye aye
  • Informal
1 8.4

A short informal way to say okay

is a formal naval response meant to confirm and obey orders
okey-doke
vsaye aye
  • Informal
8.2

A casual way to show you agree or that you understand

is a formal naval reply used specifically to accept and obey orders
okey dokey, artichokey
vsaye aye
  • Informal
9.9

Say yes in a playful way

is a serious naval acknowledgement used to show understanding and compliance

Surface Forms

aye aye main

Morphology

aye + aye

A B1 learner who knows 'aye' as 'yes' can infer that repeating it signals a stronger or emphatic affirmation, so the basic sense of agreement is transparently derivable. However, the conventionalized pragmatic meaning in naval registers — specifically acknowledging an order and indicating compliance — goes beyond simple repetition and is a fixed communicative convention, making the expression only partially predictable.

Etymology

The phrase aye aye comes from sailors on ships. When an officer gave an order, sailors would say aye twice to make the answer loud and clear, meaning 'I understand' and 'I will obey'.