4 Positive Words That Can Be Negative in English
Yes, you heard right. There are inherently positive words that can be negative in English (even in a positive tone of voice). It’s something I never really noticed until I spent more time with people who learned English as a second language. They’ll try to say something in a positive way, but because of the exact wording or tone, they end up saying something they didn’t mean to at all!
Ways Positive Words Become Negative
Ok
Most of the time, “Ok” is a synonym for “Yes.” If someone asks you to do something, and you say, “Ok.” That means that, yes, you will do it, and it’s taken as a positive response – no hard feelings.
Say it long and drawn out, however, and it becomes and expression of doubt or impatience. Like “I’ll go along with this for now, but I’m having doubts about your sanity.”
Additionally, if you say it twice, the meaning changes yet again. Even if said in the same tone as the positive “Ok,” “Ok ok” loses the positive connotation, and while it is still generally taken as agreement, it now gives the impression of impatience or annoyance. Even a brush-off (like “I get it. Stop talking.”)
Oddly enough, if you pause before saying the word the second time, it’s taken as more thoughtful than annoyed or impatient. It’s mostly when the words are said together quickly or written together that the impression is more rude.
Yes
Saying “Yes” twice has the same problem as “ok.” It’s not quite as negative as “Ok ok,” but it still creates a feeling that you’ve heard enough or aren’t really listening. Where “ok ok” is more the harried grump, “yes yes” is more the absent-minded professor who is so involved in a personal project that he or she hasn’t really absorbed anything you’ve said.
Which is interesting, since in other languages, such as Spanish, for instance, saying, “Yes” twice is simple emphasis and doesn’t really change the meaning of the word. Unfortunately, that sets up people who learned English as a second language for some misunderstandings.
Fine
“Fine” is an unusual word in English. I don’t know if it’s because one too many teenagers used it negatively against their parents (in real life as well as television), but to make this word actually sound positive, you have to make sure your tone is positive, as well. Even a more neutral tone will be take as negative or even passive-aggressive.
Right
Like “Okaaaay” and “Fiiiiiine,” the word “right” becomes negative quickly if drawn-out or said in a less-than-positive tone. It becomes a way to express doubt or disagreement – the absolute opposite of its usual meaning.
Maybe the real problem is that some words in English have become strongly associated with sarcasm. And since people have heard the words used that way, you have to be careful not to trigger that association.
Summary
Long story short, there are two major ways to switch a word’s connotation in English:
- Say it twice quickly to make it negative.
- Say it longer to express doubt or disagreement.
If you’re wondering why there isn’t a third, it’s because saying it in a less-than-positive tone is only a problem if the word is strongly associated with sarcasm and negative reactions. So it’s not as universally true as the others.
I’m curious now if there are other positive words that can be negative for similar reasons. Can you think of any?
