Buzz
The letter Y traces its roots to the 20th letter of the Greek alphabet, upsilon, which was integrated into the Latin alphabet roughly 2000 years ago to denote the “y” sound (or the voiced palatal approximant) present in certain Ancient Greek loanwords. For speakers of Romance languages such as French and Spanish, this “y” sound was unfamiliar, leading to the retention of the letter’s classical origin in its name (i-grec in French, i-griega in Spanish, ípsilon in Portuguese, etc.). However, as a Germanic language, English already possessed the “y” sound, allowing Y to swiftly secure its place at the end of the alphabet. By the early Middle Ages, it had become the preferred choice for scribes representing the “y” sound, displacing the ancient letter yogh, ȝ, which had previously served this purpose.
Despite being a late addition to the English alphabet, Y has never been a highly frequent letter. Although it appears in several of the most common words (by, you, your, they, say), it constitutes just over 1.5 percent of all written language and a similar proportion of dictionary entries—including the 40 valuable Y-words featured here.
1. Yaager
A traditional term from northern Scotland referring to an exceptionally robust individual. It likely originates from yoker, a term used for a hardworking horse.
2. Yaffle
To yaffle means to consume food or drink in a messy manner or to speak in a disjointed way. It also refers to the green woodpecker, known for its distinctive “yaffling” sound.
3. Yagiment
A condition of heightened enthusiasm.
4. Yahrzeit
Originating from Yiddish and German, meaning “year-time,” a yahrzeit refers to an annual commemoration of the date of someone’s passing.
5. Yakka
An Australian slang term for strenuous labor, borrowed from an Indigenous Australian language.
6. Yallacrack
An archaic Scots English term describing a loud commotion or a boisterous quarrel or brawl.
7. Yam
As a verb, yam can signify “eating with enjoyment or enthusiasm.”
8. Yaply
To perform something yaply means to do it with quickness or dexterity.
9. Yard-of-Pumpwater
A term from 19th-century slang perfectly describing a tall, slender man.
10. Yarn-Chopper
A 19th-century moniker for someone who speaks at length or a journalist who exaggerates or fabricates stories. Also known as a yarn-slinger.
11. Yauchle
To move clumsily or walk in an ungainly way.
12. Yaw-Yaw
Introduced by Charles Dickens in Hard Times, to yaw-yaw means to speak in a pretentious or arrogant manner.
13. Yay-Nay
A term from 18th- and 19th-century slang referring to a simple-minded individual—someone capable of only responding with “yes” or “no.”
14. Year’s Mind
A 15th-century term used to describe a commemorative event or remembrance.
15. Yegg
Allegedly (as per the Oxford English Dictionary) originating from the surname of a notorious American criminal, a yegg or yeggman was early 20th-century slang for a thief or safecracker.
16. Yellow-Back
In Victorian England, publishers started mass-producing inexpensive, sensational novels to rival the popular penny-dreadfuls. These books—over 1000 titles—were printed in vivid mustard-yellow covers to catch readers' eyes and sold not in bookstores but as impulse purchases in places like tobacconists and train stations. Though the yellow-back trend faded, the term persists in English to describe any sensational, mass-produced, and often low-quality novel.
17. Yellow-Beal
An old English dialect term for someone who goes fishing but returns with nothing.
18. Yellow-Yowling
In 18th-century English, being yellow-yowling meant you appeared sickly or unwell.
19. Yepsen
The bowl formed by cupping your hands is called a gowpen, and the quantity it can hold—essentially a double handful—is known as a yepsen or a yepsintle.
20. Yertdrift
A yertdrift is a snowstorm combined with powerful winds, causing snow to drift. The yert– part likely stems from “earth,” alluding to the snow falling downward.
21. Yestertempest
Beyond yesterday and yesteryear, English boasts other yester terms. You can refer to yestermorn, yester-afternoon, yestereve or yestere’en, yesternight, and, if necessary, yestertempest—the most recent storm.
22. Yeverous
If you’re yever, you’re greedy or desirous. If you’re yeverous, you’re keen or impulsive.
23. Yiddle
An old Scots term meaning “to play aimlessly on a musical instrument”—especially when the resulting sound is far from harmonious.
24. Yim
To shatter something into fragments.
25. Yird-Hunger
An insatiable hunger. Literally translates to “a longing to possess your own land.”
26. Ylephobia
Also known as hylophobia, ylephobia is an irrational fear or aversion to wooden items. Figuratively, it also denotes a disdain for materialism.
27. Yogibogeybox
Introduced by James Joyce in Ulysses (1922), a yogibogeybox refers to all the equipment carried by a spiritualist.
28. Yojan
The term yojan or yojana entered English in the 18th century from Hindi, originating from a Sanskrit word meaning “yoking.” Literally, it denotes the distance a yoked animal can travel before needing rest—but Noah Webster defined it as roughly five miles. This definition likely stems from an earlier interpretation stating that “the Earth’s circumference equals 5059 yojunus,” which, given a circumference of 24,901 miles, makes one yojan approximately 4.92 miles. However, other sources are less precise, with the OED noting that in India, it can refer to distances ranging from four to 10 miles.
29. Yoke-Fellow
A yoke-fellow or yoke-mate is a 16th-century term for a partner or associate, particularly someone who shares in a difficult or burdensome task.
30. Yoke-Devil
A yoke-devil is someone with whom you engage in mischief. Shakespeare introduced the term in Henry V.
31. Yonderward
Yonder is an ancient Middle English term meaning “over there” or “at that place.” Along with moving yonderward (“in that direction”), you can refer to the yondermost (“farthest”) location and do something yonderway (“in that manner”). Yonderly is an old dialect word describing someone as “gloomy” or “melancholic.”
32. Yorkroom
The yorkroom is the untilled, overgrown border of a field.
33. Yorkshire
In the 17th century, residents of England’s largest county (now split into four smaller counties, or “ridings”) were unfairly labeled as stingy and deceitful. Consequently, to Yorkshire someone meant to deceive them; a Yorkshire bite referred to a clever trick; and, in 19th-century slang, a Yorkshire compliment was “a gift useless to the giver and unwanted by the recipient.”
34. Youf
To yarr means to bark or snarl like a dog, and to yawl is to howl like one. However, when a dog barks in a partially restrained manner, it youfs.
35. Younker
A stylish yet inexperienced young man.
36. Ypsiliform
Originating from upsilon, something described as ypsiliform has a Y-shaped form.
37. Yule-Hole
The space you need to adjust your belt for after a hearty Christmas feast, or any similarly large meal, is called the Yule-hole.
38. Yump
When a car goes airborne after speeding over a hill, it yumps.
39. Yumpling
Grumbling or expressing dissatisfaction.
40. Yunk
When a horse yunks, it attempts to throw off its rider. From this, yunk-a-cuddie is an old game resembling leapfrog.
