Yada
/ˈjɑːdə/noun
An informal expression referring dismissively to further talk, details, or repetition, usually in the phrase “yada yada.”
Did you know?The expression became widely popular after Lenny Bruce used it in the 1960s, decades before *Seinfeld* turned “yada yada” into a cultural catchphrase.
Etymological Timeline
Early 20th Century or earlier
Yiddish/English
yada / yadda
“A disputed expressive form associated with dismissive references to continued or predictable speech; its exact origin is uncertain.”
1960s
American English
yada-yada
“A reduplicated phrase used by comedian Lenny Bruce to stand for omitted or tedious material.”
1970s–1980s
American English
yada yada
“An informal expression meaning “and so on” or “you know the rest.””
1997
American English
yada yada
“Popularized nationally by the television sitcom *Seinfeld*, especially in the episode “The Yada Yada.””
Modern English
English
yada
“A clipped form used informally to dismiss, abbreviate, or mock predictable speech.”