19 May, 2018 11:18

Yesn’t? Latest social media craze sees people call for ‘No’ to be scrapped

More than 30,000 people have signed a petition to change the word ‘No’ in the dictionary to ‘Yesn’t,’ in what appears to be the latest online craze following the ‘Yanny and Laurel’ debate.

The reason behind it is unclear but the petition has since gone viral and effectively asks signatories to agree to speaking child-like gibberish.

“Change the word ‘No’ in the English language to ‘Yesn’t,’” reads the Chang.org petition, which was set up by UK resident Ewan Maloney. Reaction to the cause has been mixed, however, with some folks in full agreement and others not so much.

It's been a weird week in the world of words. First "yanny" (https://t.co/9DaTqZfWhK), and now... "yesn't"? https://t.co/mAxnWjlZdS
— Ben Zimmer (@bgzimmer) May 18, 2018

Ive always had a difficult time saying “no” so from today im gonna say yesn’t
— Bipin (@biipiinho) May 16, 2018

no = 👎👎👎😤yesn't = 👌👌😂🆒🔥 pic.twitter.com/g1DhKCZTH7
— Lupo (@Lupoternal) May 18, 2018

Just stop...no we don't want to change the word "no" to "yesn't" https://t.co/yKYYtz0y7n pic.twitter.com/8U5HptoEE3
— 100.7 KGMO (@1007KGMO) May 19, 2018

I decided to make an autocorrect to fill no with yesn't.It was more troublesome than I thought XD help
— DAKINUVPEPR (@DAKINUVPEPR) May 19, 2018

Dictionary.com has added the phrase to its slang section, describing it as a “negative used to express dissent or an unwillingness to do something.”

“It is another (or better) way of saying ‘No,’” it adds.

No is a word. Yesn't is also a word. #SortOf https://t.co/TB9h2xqMWv
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) May 19, 2018

Meanwhile, American publisher Merriam Webster has chimed in on the debate, indicating that it will consider recognizing the bizarre word in its dictionary.