Thread: How "yes" or "no" is "да нет, наверное"?

I have encountered the phrase "да нет, наверное" and I think I read somewhere that while it translates to "yes, no, probably" in all its undecidedness it leans heavily towards "rather not" or something like that, but I seem to have misplaced my source. Trying to confirm that I find myself unable to locate examples of the phrase in actual usage or explanations of the phrase on the internet, mostly because it seems to be the Russian title of the movie "Definitely, Maybe" as well. Almost all Google hits are concerned with the movie.

So, on a scale of your liking, how does the phrase relate to "yes" or "no"? Is it just undecided or does it lean towards one of the two?

"Да нет" is a common way to say "no" when outright "нет" seems like too strong of a word, or when there's some level of uncertainty. You'll hear it daily, and as for translation it can be translated as "I guess, not", "rather not" or something along the lines.
"Да нет, наверное" was made into a catch-phrase by a popular comic Zadornov (if I'm not mistaken), who used it to demonstrate a 'complexity' of Russian language, in which three contradicting words form a meaningful sentence. It means simply "Probably, not".

PS. Just to make it clear - "да нет" NEVER means "yes".

"Да" просто разговорное и стоит для пущей убедительности.
Да нет, вы неправы!
Да нет, наверное там всё было наоборот. Они не уехали, а приехали.

Word "да" has many meanings. It can be a particle, conjunction or interjection. Here it has an intensive function and should not be translated as "yes". What remains is "нет, наверное", which is translated literally: "probably not" or "rather not".

Thanks, everyone! It's great how quickly answers are provided here.

Originally Posted by it-ogo

Word "да" has many meanings. It can be a particle, conjunction or interjection. Here it has an intensive function and should not be translated as "yes". What remains is "нет, наверное", which is translated literally: "probably not" or "rather not".

I would add that "да" can be better translated as "well" ("ну").

Well, perhaps not.

Well-known example of да not meaning "yes": Щи да каша - пища наша.

Originally Posted by chaika

Well-known example of да not meaning "yes": Щи да каша - пища наша.

Good point. "Да" here has a different meaning ("and"), now almost obsolete. Иван да Марья, козы да овцы. Sometimes "да" means even "but": Скоро сказка сказывается, да не скоро дело делается (it's quick to tell a fairy tale, but not quick to do a deal). Федот, да не тот (Fedot [a male name], but not the same / the one [you're looking for]).