You must be familiar of the fact that there are a limited number of verbs that start with Y. This lack of verbs beginning with Y is due to the fact that Y, as a consonant, does not have a distinct sound when it comes at the beginning of a consonant cluster.
Before we talk about verbs that start with Y in detail, let us find out what a verb actually is. Verb is a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence.
In British and American English, most of the verbs that start with Y have become archaic and obsolete, and are no longer in use. In Scottish and Australian English, on the other hand, a large number of these verbs have been retained. Some of the verbs in this article are no longer used in British English but are still used in Scottish and Australian English.
Let us now go through the list of action words starting with Y given below. Try to get yourself familiarized with them and also make an effort in using them in your own phrases and sentences that you utter in your everyday life.
Table of Contents
Common Verbs That Start with Y
A verb is a doing word that shows an action, an event or a state. A sentence may either have a main verb, a helping verb or both. Following are some of the verbs that start with Y. Try and learn as many of these verbs starting with Y as possible.
1. Yank
- Definition: to pull something forcefully with a quick movement
- Synonyms: jerk, pluck
- Example: Charlie yanked the door open.
2. Yap
- Definition: to make a sharp, shrill bark
- Synonyms: yelp, woof
- Example: The dog was yapping all night.
3. Yellow
- Definition: to make or become yellow
- Synonyms: tinge, age
- Example: The leaves have yellowed due to excessive heat.
4. Yowl
- Definition: to make a long cry, usually when hurt
- Synonyms: bawl, wail
- Example: He was yowling in pain.
5. Yell
- Definition: to raise your voice and shout
- Synonyms: bawl, yowl
- Example: Why are you yelling at her?
6. Yak
- Definition: to talk incessantly and tiresomely about trivial things
- Synonyms: gab, yap
- Example: She has been yakking for quite some time now.
7. Yarn
- Definition: to tell a long story
- Synonyms: babble, blather
- Example: He was yarning about the Greek Gods.
8. Yaw
- Definition: to swerve off course
- Synonyms: deviate, stray
- Example: He spun the steering-wheel and we yawed from side to side.
9. Yabber
- Definition: to talk nonsensically
- Synonyms: chatter, babble
- Example: What was she yabbering about?
Positive Verbs That Start with Y
Words with a positive connotation appear pleasant, fulfilling, and affirming in the context in which they are employed. Following are some of the positive verbs that start with Y. Find out for yourself how many of these verbs starting with Y had you known before.
1. Yield
- Definition: to produce a natural, agricultural, or industrial product
- Synonyms: generate, produce
- Example: This soil should yield good crops.
2. Yo-yo
- Definition: to move up and down
- Synonyms: oscillate, fluctuate
- Example: Popularity polls yo-yo up and down with the flow of events.
3. Yacht
- Definition: to cruise, race, sail or travel in a yacht
- Synonyms: boat, ship
- Example: He was yachting in high waters.
4. Yard
- Definition: put (farm animals) into an enclosure
- Synonyms: put, keep, enclose
- Example: Sheep should be yarded even in the spring.
5. Yawp
- Definition: to shout or exclaim hoarsely
- Synonyms: grizzle, yammer
- Example: The fans were yawping in the stadium.
6. Yean
- Definition: (of sheep) to give birth to a lamb
- Synonyms: born, bud
- Example: The other day a lamb was yeaned.
7. Yeast
- Definition: to ferment or froth
- Synonyms: brew, churn
- Example: The mixture of flour and water is yeasted to form bread.
8. Yock
- Definition: to laugh or joke
- Synonyms: giggle, grin
- Example: He was yocking with her friends.
9. Yodel
- Definition: to sing or call with abrupt alternating changes between a normal chest register and falsetto
- Synonyms: carol, shout
- Example: You haven’t lived till you’ve learned how to yodel at a tea dance in a mountain hut!
Verbs That Start with Y to Describe a Person
There are certain verbs in English language that represent a state of being, need, opinion, sense, or preference. Following are some of the verbs that start with Y to describe a person. If you know more such verbs that start with Y, add them to this list.
1. Yelp
- Definition: to utter a short, sharp cry
- Synonyms: yowl, hoot
- Example: Ali was yelping in pain.
2. Yawn
- Definition: to open your mouth widely and breathe in because you’re tired
- Synonyms: snooze, drowse
- Example: I can’t stop yawning – I must be tired.
3. Yip
- Definition: to emit a yelp
- Synonyms: yap, yowl
- Example: Ahmed was yipping all night.
4. Yen
- Definition: to have a desire for something or someone who is not present
- Synonyms: crave, desire
- Example: She was yenning for her lover.
5. Yammer
- Definition: to talk continuously for a long time in a way that is annoying to other people
- Synonyms: chatter, yap
- Example: She has been yammering for hours!
6. Yuk
- Definition: to joke or laugh exuberantly
- Synonyms: banter, gambol
- Example: The audience were yukking at the cinema.
7. Yak
- Definition: to talk for a long time about unimportant matters
- Synonyms: babble, blather
- Example: She was yakking away about her grandchildren.
8. Yearn
- Definition: to desire something strongly
- Synonyms: crave, desire
- Example: I yearn for the love and affection I once had.
9. Yeuk
- Definition: to itch the skin
- Synonyms: scratch, tingle
- Example: Mike was yeuking with some discomfort.
More Verbs That Start with Y
Following are some more verbs starting with Y. Some of these verbs beginning with Y have been taken from Scottish and Australian English therefore you might get confused while learning them. To learn them properly go through them a couple of times.
1. Yark
- Definition: to talk rubbish
- Synonyms: slobber, jabber
- Example: Why was she yarking about Joanna?
2. Yaup
- Definition: to make a raucous noise
- Synonyms: squawk, clamor
- Example: Don’t yaup over spilled milk; just clean it up.
3. Yawl
- Definition: to howl, weep, or scream
- Synonyms: roar, wail
- Example: Charlie was yawling for no apparent reason.
4. Yux
- Definition: to sob or hiccough
- Synonyms: whimper, wail
- Example: John yuxed and spoke through the nose.
5. Youl
- Definition: to yell
- Synonyms: squawk, scream
- Example: Mona was seen youling at the kids.
6. Yerk
- Definition: to thrash or flog
- Synonyms: whip, spank
- Example: He yerked him here under the ribs.
7. Yend
- Definition: to throw; to cast
- Synonyms: hurl, throw
- Example: She yended her old watch into the river.
Verbs That Start with Y – Full List (40 Words)
- Yarn
- Yawp
- Yen
- Yuk
- Yoke
- Yak
- Yell
- Yean
- Yield
- Yard
- Yo-yo
- Yodel
- Yock
- Yarm
- Yawn
- Yark
- Youl
- Yeve
- Yaw
- Yandy
- Yead
- Yux
- Yank
- Yeast
- Yerk
- Yabber
- Yammer
- Yacht
- Yaup
- Yend
- Yawl
- Yap
- Yowl
- Yearn
- Yellow
- Yack
- Yeuk
- Yelp
- Yip
- Yarn-dye
Final Thoughts on Verbs That Start with Y
Thank you for going through this article on verbs that start with Y. It is hoped that this article would have help you in acquiring a number of new verbs starting with Y that you haven’t heard of before.
You must have noticed this thing that in both our verbal and written communications, we use some verbs more than the others. The verbs that start with Y that you have learned in this article are not used on a regular basis in our daily life routine. If you want to stand apart from the rest of the people, start using these verbs in your daily life talks.
Let us now conclude our discussion on verbs beginning with Y. Try adding new verbs to the list of verbs given above if you want to enhance your vocabulary.
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