This list includes 41 Nouns that start with Y, from “yacht” to “yuzu”. These nouns cover everyday objects, foods, places, plants, and some abstract terms useful for students and writers.
Nouns that start with Y are common and specific names for people, places, things, and ideas. For example, “yacht” recalls maritime leisure, while “yuzu” is a fragrant citrus used widely in Japanese cooking.
Below you’ll find the table with the columns Noun, Definition, and Example.
Noun: The noun itself as used in English, shown in base form so you can locate or learn the word quickly.
Definition: A concise one-line meaning that explains the noun clearly, helping you understand its common use and sense.
Example: A short natural sentence showing the noun in context, so you see how to use it correctly in speech.
Nouns that start with Y
| Noun | Definition | Example sentence | Countability |
|---|---|---|---|
| yard | A unit of length equal to three feet; also an outdoor area around a building. | They measured the garden and marked one yard intervals. | countable |
| year | A period of twelve months used to measure time or mark events and ages. | She celebrated her twenty-first year with a small party. | countable |
| yell | A loud cry or shout, often expressing surprise, anger, pain, or excitement. | A sudden yell from downstairs made everyone look up. | countable |
| yarn | Spun thread used for knitting or weaving; also a long, often imaginative story. | She told a funny yarn about her childhood camping trip. | both |
| yacht | A medium to large recreational boat or ship used for pleasure or racing. | They rented a yacht for a weekend cruise on the lake. | countable |
| yak | A large long-haired bovine animal native to high-altitude regions of Asia. | The farmer raised a yak for milk and wool. | countable |
| yawn | An involuntary open-mouthed breathing action usually caused by tiredness or boredom. | He tried to hide his yawn during the long meeting. | countable |
| youth | The period of being young, especially the time before adulthood and young people collectively. | Many programs support youth development in local communities. | both |
| youngster | A child or young person, often used informally or in family contexts. | The youngsters played in the park until sunset. | countable |
| yogurt | A dairy product made by fermenting milk, often eaten plain or flavored. | She eats yogurt with fruit for breakfast every morning. | both |
| yoga | A system of physical and mental practices for health, relaxation, and flexibility. | He attends a yoga class twice a week. | uncountable |
| yolk | The yellow, nutrient-rich part of an egg contained within the eggshell, used in cooking. | She separated the yolk from the egg white carefully. | countable |
| yoke | A wooden crosspiece fastened to animals to pull loads or as a symbolic burden. | Farmers fitted the oxen with a heavy yoke before plowing. | countable |
| yeast | A microscopic fungus used in baking and brewing to ferment sugars and create bubbles. | Add the yeast to warm water before mixing the dough. | uncountable |
| yurt | A circular portable tent used traditionally by nomads in Central Asian regions. | They stayed in a yurt during their mountain trip. | countable |
| yo-yo | A toy with a string that spins down and returns to the hand. | He practiced a new yo-yo trick in the hallway. | countable |
| yardstick | A measuring stick one yard long; a standard used for comparison or judgment. | Use a yardstick to check whether the table is straight. | countable |
| yardarm | The outer end of a ship’s yard from which sails are controlled or signaled. | The sailors raised a flag on the ship’s yardarm at dawn. | countable |
| yardage | The amount of space measured in yards or the distance covered in yards. | The coach recorded the receiver’s yardage after every play. | uncountable |
| yardwork | Outdoor tasks around a yard, such as mowing, trimming, planting, or garden maintenance. | He spent the afternoon doing yardwork in the back garden. | uncountable |
| yearbook | A book published annually to record events, photos, and memories for a year. | Students signed each other’s yearbook at the graduation party. | countable |
| yearling | An animal or person that is one year old, especially a young animal. | The farmer sold the yearling at the autumn market. | countable |
| yesteryear | Times past; the past period or era, often remembered with nostalgia or fondness. | Songs from yesteryear remind her of childhood summers. | uncountable |
| yesterday | The day before today, used as a noun to refer to recent past time. | Yesterday was cold, so we stayed indoors all day. | uncountable |
| yen | A strong desire or craving for something; also the Japanese currency name. | She had a sudden yen for travel and booked flights immediately. | both |
| yew | A slow-growing evergreen tree with red berries and poisonous seeds, commonly used in hedges and woodwork. | They planted a yew hedge along the old stone wall. | countable |
| yucca | A tough-leaved, flowering plant common in dry regions and used in landscaping. | The garden features several yucca plants that bloom every summer. | countable |
| yam | A starchy tuberous root vegetable eaten boiled, baked, or fried in many cuisines. | She roasted yams with honey and cinnamon for dinner. | countable |
| yodel | A form of singing that alternates quickly between chest and head voice registers. | Her yodel echoed across the mountain valley loudly. | countable |
| yodeler | A person who sings by yodeling, especially in Alpine or folk traditions. | The yodeler performed an impressive song at the folk festival. | countable |
| yelp | A short, sharp cry, often made by an animal or person in pain. | The dog gave a yelp when its paw was stepped on. | countable |
| yawl | A small sailing vessel with two masts, often used for coastal sailing. | They sailed the yawl along the rocky coastline for practice. | countable |
| yaw | A sideways movement or rotation of a vehicle, aircraft, or object around its vertical axis. | The pilot corrected the yaw before the aircraft landed. | uncountable |
| yarmulke | A small skullcap worn by some Jewish men during prayer or religious ceremonies. | He adjusted his yarmulke before entering the synagogue. | countable |
| yeoman | Historically, a freeholder or skilled worker; also a naval petty officer rank or helper. | The yeoman completed important administrative tasks for the officer. | countable |
| yuppie | An informal term for a young urban professional focused on career and lifestyle. | Many yuppies moved into the renovated downtown apartments last year. | countable |
| yahoo | An uncultured, boorish person; often used as an insult or comic term. | Don’t be a yahoo and respect other people’s property. | countable |
| yield | The quantity or return produced by an investment, crop, or business activity. | The farm increased its yield after switching to a new fertilizer. | both |
| yuzu | A small, aromatic citrus fruit used in East Asian cooking and flavoring. | Chefs use yuzu to add a bright, citrusy flavor to dishes. | countable |
| yip | A short, high-pitched cry, typically made by a small dog or puppy. | The puppy let out a small yip when it was startled. | countable |
| yachtman | A person who owns or sails a yacht; someone experienced in yachting and seamanship. | The yachtman checked the lines before leaving the harbor early. | countable |
Descriptions
yard
Commonly used for measuring and for outdoor spaces; collocates: back yard, school yard, yard sale.
year
Basic time unit; used in dates, school years, fiscal year, and expressions like “by next year.”
yell
Used for human and animal cries; common collocations: let out a yell, a short yell.
yarn
Means both textile material and an informal story; collocates: spinning a yarn, knitting yarn.
yacht
Associated with leisure and sport; collocates: luxury yacht, sailing yacht.
yak
Refers to the animal; also appears in cultural and mountaineering contexts; pronunciation note: /ˈjæk/.
yawn
Used as a physical action or metaphorically (a boring event); collocates: suppress a yawn.
youth
Refers to the time of life and young people; collocates: youth culture, youth programs.
youngster
Informal, friendly term for children; common in spoken and written English.
yogurt
Food term; American spelling “yogurt” common; collocates: flavored yogurt, Greek yogurt.
yoga
Refers to the practice or discipline; collocates: yoga class, yoga pose; uncountable in general use.
yolk
Used in cooking and biology; collocates: egg yolk, runny yolk.
yoke
Literal farming tool and figurative meaning (burden); collocates: bear a yoke, ox yoke.
yeast
Common in cooking and brewing; collocates: active yeast, brewer’s yeast.
yurt
Now used in tourism and glamping; collocates: stay in a yurt, yurt camp.
yo-yo
Classic toy; also used metaphorically for up-and-down movements or unstable behavior.
yardstick
Also figurative: a standard of measurement; collocates: a useful yardstick.
yardarm
Nautical term; mainly appears in maritime contexts and literature.
yardage
Common in sports (football) and textiles; usually uncountable.
yardwork
Domestic term for gardening chores; used in everyday conversation.
yearbook
Common in schools; collocates: class yearbook, school yearbook.
yearling
Often used for livestock and horses; specific age term.
yesteryear
Literary or nostalgic term; used to refer to earlier decades or eras.
yesterday
Common temporal noun; used in everyday speech and writing.
yen
Means craving (a yen for) and the currency yen; context determines meaning.
yew
Common in gardens and historic sites; beware that parts are poisonous.
yucca
Used in xeriscaping and decorative planting; distinct, spiky foliage.
yam
Often confused with sweet potato in some dialects; used in many cuisines.
yodel
Musical noun; related verbs: yodel; cultural association with Alpine music.
yodeler
Refers to a performer; common in folk music descriptions.
yelp
Common in descriptions of animals and sudden pains; collocates: a sharp yelp.
yawl
Nautical term for a specific rig; appears in sailing contexts.
yaw
Technical term in navigation and engineering; used in aviation discussions.
yarmulke
Religious head covering; also spelled “yarmulka” or called “kippah” in many contexts.
yeoman
Historic and naval senses; appears in historical and military writing.
yuppie
Informal, often slightly pejorative; common in sociological or cultural contexts.
yahoo
Informal insult; literary origin but in modern casual use as a rude person.
yield
Used in finance, agriculture, and chemistry; can be countable (“a yield”) or uncountable.
yuzu
Increasingly used in global cuisine and drinks; tart, floral citrus aroma.
yip
Common onomatopoeic term for small sharp sounds from animals or people.
yachtman
Less formal than “yachtsman” but used to describe recreational sailors and owners.