Verbs That Start With Y – List of Positive, Action, and Common Y Verbs

Verbs beginning with the letter Y may be few in number, yet they carry a unique charm that makes them stand out. Unlike more common letters, Y adds a youthful energy and distinct rhythm to our language, giving the words it leads a playful yet powerful edge. From everyday conversations to creative writing, these verbs help us express actions, emotions, and ideas in ways that feel vivid and memorable. Exploring verbs that start with Y not only expands vocabulary but also sparks curiosity, making it especially fun for kids, students, and anyone eager to enrich their communication skills.

List of Verbs That Start With Y

• Yack – to talk continuously, often about trivial matters.
  Example: The kids yacked all afternoon about their favorite games. 
• Yack away – to chatter without pause.
  Example: She yacked away during the whole car ride. 
• Yammer – to complain loudly or talk persistently.
  Example: He yammered about the long wait at the station. 
• Yap – to talk noisily; also used for a small dog barking.
  Example: The puppy yapped excitedly at the visitors. 
• Yap on – to chatter without stopping.
  Example: He yapped on about his new car for hours. 
• Yarn – to tell a story, especially an exaggerated one.
  Example: Grandpa loves to yarn about his adventures at sea. 
• Yaw – to deviate from a straight course (often in aviation or sailing).
  Example: The plane began to yaw during turbulence. 
• Yawn – to open your mouth wide when tired or bored.
  Example: She couldn’t stop yawning during the lecture. 
• Yearn – to long deeply for something.
  Example: She yearned for a life full of adventure. 
• Yell – to shout loudly.
  Example: He yelled for help when he saw the fire. 

• Yelp – to cry out in pain or surprise.
  Example: The dog yelped when it stepped on a thorn. 
• Yield – to give way, produce, or surrender.
  Example: The farmer’s field yields a rich harvest each year. 
• Yodel – to sing with rapid changes between chest voice and falsetto.
  Example: The singer yodeled beautifully in the mountains. 
• Yoke – to join together or unite.
  Example: The oxen were yoked to the plow. 
• Yowl – to make a loud, mournful cry (like a cat).
  Example: The cat yowled outside in the rain.
• Yabber – to talk or chatter.
  Example: They yabbered endlessly about old times. 
• Yaffle – to eat or drink noisily.
  Example: He yaffled down his meal in minutes. 
• Yank – to pull something suddenly or forcefully.
  Example: She yanked the door open. 
• Yark – to bark sharply (archaic).
  Example: The hounds yarked when they caught the scent. 
• Yarr – to growl or snarl (dialectal).
  Example: The dog yarrs when strangers come near. 
• Yawl – to cry out loudly.
  Example: The baby yawled for attention. 
• Yean – (old English) to give birth to a lamb or kid.
  Example: The ewe yeaned twin lambs in spring. 
• Yede – to go or proceed (archaic).
  Example: He yede through the forest quietly. 
• Yegg – slang, to rob or burglarize.
  Example: The thieves yegged the store at night. 
• Yerk – to strike or kick suddenly.
  Example: The horse yerks back when startled. 
• Yank off – to remove suddenly.
  Example: He yanked off the bandage. 
• Yank out – to pull something out forcefully.
  Example: She yanked out the weeds from the garden. 
• Yawn at – to show boredom or disinterest.
  Example: The audience yawned at the dull speech. 
• Yell out – to shout loudly.
  Example: He yelled out the answer from the back. 
• Yell at – to scold or shout at someone.
  Example: The coach yelled at the players for being late. 
• Yelp out – to cry loudly.
  Example: The child yelped out when he scraped his knee. 
• Yield to – to surrender or give in.
  Example: She yielded to temptation and ate the cake. 
• Yield up – to hand over or give away.
  Example: He yielded up the stolen goods. 
• Yoke together – to bind or join.
  Example: The workers yoked together two wooden beams. 
• Yowl out – to cry loudly in distress.
  Example: She yowled out when she lost her wallet.
• Yoink – slang, to snatch quickly.
  Example: He yoinked the last slice of pizza. 
• Yahoo – to shout or exclaim boisterously.
  Example: Fans yahooed as their team won. 
• Yuck – to exclaim in disgust.
  Example: She yucked at the spoiled food. 
• Yum – to exclaim enjoyment of food.
  Example: They yum at the delicious dessert. 
• Yeet – slang, to throw forcefully or enthusiastically.
  Example: He yeeted the ball across the field. 
• Yank back – to pull backward suddenly.
  Example: She yanked back the curtains. 
• Yap back – to respond rudely or talk back.
  Example: The student yapped back at the teacher. 
• Yap out – to blurt out words.
  Example: He yapped out the secret by accident. 
• Yell back – to respond loudly.
  Example: She yelled back from the kitchen. 
• Yank around – to jerk or control roughly.
  Example: The boss kept yanking the staff around.

Fun Facts About Words Beginning With Y

• Y Is Both a Vowel and a Consonant – The letter Y is special because it can play two roles. In words like yellow or yarn it’s a consonant, but in myth or gym it acts as a vowel. Few letters in the English alphabet have such a double identity. 
• Yawn Is One of the Oldest Y-Verbs – The verb yawn dates back to Old English (geonian), meaning “to gape or open the mouth wide.” People have been yawning and talking about it for over a thousand years! 
• Yearn Has Deep Emotional Roots – The verb yearn comes from the Old English word geornian, meaning “to desire eagerly.” It shows how emotions and longing have always been central to human expression. 
• Yodel Originated in the Alps – The verb yodel is borrowed from German (jodeln), and it describes a unique singing style developed in the Swiss Alps. It was originally used by herders to communicate across mountains. 
• Yield Was Once a Warrior’s Word – While today yield often means “to produce” or “to give way,” in Middle English it also meant “to surrender in battle.” Knights and soldiers would literally yield their swords when defeated.

Read: Verbs That Start With V

Read: Verbs That Start With W

Read: Verbs That Start With X

Conclusion

Verbs beginning with Y may be rare, yet they carry a distinct power that sets them apart in the English language. From expressive actions like yawn, yodel, and yell to inspiring ones like yearn and yield, these verbs enrich our vocabulary with energy, creativity, and character. Learning and using verbs that start with Y not only makes communication more colorful but also helps students, writers, and language enthusiasts expand their expression.