yea(h) and yes

[balakrishnanijk]

I have often heard (esp) American people say "yea(h)". Are yes and yea(h) interchangable? Could you illustrate their uses?

[mary joe]

Yes- used in formal setting or conversations. You can use it when you are having a serious dialog with a teacher for example.
Yea[h]/ Yah- informal conversations. You can use it when you are talking to a friend.

Note: Also a student

[Barb_D]

Yeah, yep, yupper, yes-indeedy, mary joe has it just right. Yeah is simply an informal yes.