What does the exclamation word" AIYAH" or "HA

[Mike]

This word is used in HK in nearly every sentence.
It is the word, which every Cantonese learner
HAS to know.
Although it is used so much in every day life, you can
hardly find it in any book.
This is really strange, because it is not a vulgar slang expression.

Does anybody know what the exact writing, pronunciation
and the ton is ? ( Western romanization )
it seems to be a word, which has a lot of differnet meanings, like YES, OF COURSE, I see .....
Can somebody list some more meanings ?

[Stephen]

Hai6 aa3 係呀
Hai6 is the Mandarin equivalent of shi4 是
In general, the phrase means "Yes", "Sure", "Certainly".
If the tone is aa4, it means "is that so?"
If the aa3 is emphatic, it means "I've told you so." or "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes."

[radioboy]

I think I have a more accurate explanation for you. As you said it is an exclamation word, I think Stephen mistook it to mean "yes" as in "hai ah"
"Aiyah" is a different word, often used in situations of suprise. Is this the word you mean?
ie. ""Aiya! Yau mgeidak daai sosih la!
Oh No! I forgot my keys again!
Aiya! tong sei ngoh!
Oh No! It hurts!
: Hai6 is the Mandarin equivalent of shi4 是
: In general, the phrase means "Yes", "Sure", "Certainly".
: If the tone is aa4, it means "is that so?"
: If the aa3 is emphatic, it means "I've told you so." or "Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes."