Of course vs Yes yes

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Of course

Top 1,000 (very common)

Yes yes

Informal Top 2,000 (common)

Most formal: Of course Most common: Of course

	Of course	Yes yes
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //əv kɔːs// 🇺🇸 //əv kɔrs//	🇬🇧 //jɛs jɛs// 🇺🇸 //jɛs jɛs//
Meaning	Definitely, it's obvious.	A way to agree or show excitement.
Example	Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course!	When she said the event was postponed, I replied, 'yes yes!' because it meant more time to prepare.
Register	Neutral	Informal
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
Collocations	of course not, of course yes, of course you can, of course it is	yes yes moment, say yes yes, yes yes response
Common mistakes	Using it in formal writing where a different expression is needed., Confusing it with other affirmations like 'certainly' or 'definitely'.	Using 'yes yes' in formal emails or speeches., Assuming 'yes yes' can replace 'yes' in all situations., Not considering tone and context when saying 'yes yes'.
Usage notes	Used in informal and formal situations to affirm something obvious. Avoid in highly formal writing.	Used in casual conversations to express strong agreement or enthusiasm. Avoid in formal settings.

See it in real clips

Of course.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

You know her, of course.

And, of course, I paid my respect to Bubba himself.

Of course.

Agatha Christies Poirot › S1 E1

You know her, of course.

Of course

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Yes. Yes, he's alive.

Yes yes

Frequently asked questions: Of course vs Yes yes

What's the difference between Of course and Yes yes?

Of course: Definitely, it's obvious. Yes yes: A way to agree or show excitement.

Which is more formal: Of course and Yes yes?

Of course is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Of course and Yes yes?

Of course is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Of course: Are you joining us for dinner tonight? Of course! Yes yes: When she said the event was postponed, I replied, 'yes yes!' because it meant more time to prepare.

Can I use Of course and Yes yes interchangeably?

Not always. Of course and Yes yes are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.