What Does the Japanese Word Yatta (やった) Mean?

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Plus, how to use this popular Japanese exclamation
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If you’re learning Japanese (or you watch a lot of anime), you may have heard the word “yatta” and wondered what it meant. “Yatta” is an interjection that roughly translates to “Hooray” or “I did it” in English, and it’s often used to express excitement. Keep reading to learn all about what “yatta” means, how to use it in a sentence, and what the popular “Yatta!” parody song is.

“Yatta” Translation

The Japanese word “yatta” (やった) means “Hooray,” “Yay,” “Yes,” or “I did it” in English. It’s often used to express happiness and excitement, for example, “I just defeated the final boss! Yatta!”

Section 1 of 4:

What does “yatta” mean in Japanese?

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  1. Yatta means “Hooray!” or “I did it!”
    In Japanese, “yatta” (やった) is an exclamation that expresses happiness or excitement. It roughly translates to “Hooray,” “Yay!” “Yes!” “I did it,” “It’s done,” or “Ready.” It is the past tense of the verb “yaru (やる),” which means “to do.”[1]
    • Yatta is often said when something unexpected or wonderful happens or when someone successfully completes a task.
    • According to some, the phrase used to be reserved for when something really incredible happened, but now people use it for any happy turn of events.
    • For example, a child might shout “Yatta!” when they find out their parents are taking them on an exciting vacation.
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Use “Yatta”

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  1. Use “yatta” to express excitement or success.
    “Yatta” is an interjection that Japanese people often use to show their happiness or excitement about a given situation. It also translates to “I did it” or “It’s done” in English, so it can also be used to express happiness upon completing a task or project. Here are some examples of how to use it in a sentence:[2]
    • “Yatta! Our team just hit a home run!”
    • “Yatta! My English essay is finally done!”
    • “I just defeated the final boss! Yatta!”
    • “Yatta! I’ve found it!”
    • “The pizza is ready! Yatta!”
Section 3 of 4:

What is the “Yatta!” song?

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  1. “Yatta!”
    is a parody song by the fictional Japanese boy band Happa-tai. “Yatta!” was released on April 4, 2001, and was first performed as a sketch on the Japanese sketch comedy show, Adventures of a Laughing Dog, known as Silly Go Lucky in the United States. The song hit No. 6 on the charts and went triple-platinum in Japan. It also gained popularity outside of Japan, and the group even performed “Yatta!” in the US on Jimmy Kimmel Live.[3]
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Section 4 of 4:

More Japanese Words & Phrases

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  1. Want to learn more Japanese words and phrases?
    We’ve got you covered with articles that provide translations and language-learning tips! Check them out below:

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.tanoshiijapanese.com/dictionary/entry_details.cfm?entry_id=96317
  2. ↑ https://thetruejapan.com/what-does-yatta-mean-in-japanese/
  3. ↑ https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Music/Yatta

About This Article

Claire Wang
Co-authored by:
Claire Wang
Language Teacher
This article was co-authored by Claire Wang and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Claire Wang is a London-based language education expert and the Founder of LingoClass, the city’s leading school for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Since founding LingoClass in 2018, she has helped hundreds of students develop a deep passion for Asian languages and cultures through her engaging, student-centered approach. With over a decade of international teaching experience in Taiwan, Canada, and the UK, Claire specializes in the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach, which emphasizes real-world interaction and meaningful communication. Her classes are known for being dynamic, practical, and deeply culturally immersive. Claire holds a postgraduate degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language from SOAS University of London. In addition to leading LingoClass, she is also a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Language, Arts and Culture at the University of the Arts London, where she integrates language learning with broader cultural and artistic perspectives. This article has been viewed 1,050 times.
2 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: April 2, 2025
Views: 1,050
Categories: Japanese
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,050 times.

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