If you’re looking for a list of nouns that start with Y, you’ve come to the right place! This article will provide you with a list of common and less common nouns that begin with the letter Y. Whether you’re looking for a name for your new pet or trying to come up with an interesting word for your next Scrabble game, this list is sure to give you some ideas.
So, without further ado, here are some nouns that start with Y:
Yacht, Yam, Yard, Year, Yelper, Yoga, Yogurt, Yong, Youth, Yurt and more!
We hope you enjoyed this list of nouns that start with Y. If you’re looking for more ideas, be sure to check out our other articles on words that start with Y.
Nouns That Start With The Letter Y

Nouns That Start With Y
There are many interesting nouns that start with the letter Y. Here is a list of some of the most intriguing ones.
- Yak: a large, hairy mammal that is native to the Himalayan region.
- Yakuza: a Japanese organized crime syndicate.
- Yahoo: an Internet search engine.
- Yankee: a native or inhabitant of the United States.
- Yard: a unit of length equal to 3 feet or 0.9144 meter.
- Yawn: an often contagious reflex act of opening one’s mouth wide and inhaling deeply due to tiredness or boredom.
- Year: a period of 365 or 366 days, divided into 12 calendar months, during which the earth completes one revolution around the sun.
- Yeast: a single-celled fungus that is used in the fermentation of beer, wine, and bread.
- Yellow: the color of gold or butter; the primary color between green and orange in the visible spectrum.
- Yoga: a system of physical and mental exercises originating in ancient India.
Whether you are looking for an interesting conversation starter, or simply want to increase your knowledge, these nouns are sure to fascinate.
113 Nouns That Start With YA
y-axis | The secondary or vertical axis of a system of coordinates, points along which have a value of zero for all other coordinates. |
Y-level | a surveyor’s level with a telescope supported in y-shaped rests and as a result capable of being rotated around its own axis or of being taken out of the supports and turned end for end for purposes of adjustment — compare dumpy level |
yabber | Chatter. |
yabbies | any of various burrowing Australian crayfishes (genus Cherax, especially C. destructor) that are used for food |
yaccas | any of several chiefly West Indian trees of the genus Podocarpus (such as P. coriaceus and P. purdianus) |
yacht | A medium-sized sailboat equipped for cruising or racing. Race or cruise in a yacht. |
yachts | A medium-sized sailboat equipped for cruising or racing. Race or cruise in a yacht. |
yachtsman | a person who owns or sails a yacht |
yack | A large domesticated wild ox with shaggy hair, humped shoulders, and large horns, used in Tibet as a pack animal and for its milk, meat, and hide. Trivial or unduly persistent conversation. Talk at length about trivial or boring subjects. |
yackety-yak | yakentry 2 |
yacks | Trivial or unduly persistent conversation. Talk at length about trivial or boring subjects. |
yaffle | green woodpecker |
yahoo | A rude, noisy, or violent person. Expressing great joy or excitement. |
yahoos | A rude, noisy, or violent person. Expressing great joy or excitement. |
Yahweh | A form of the Hebrew name of God used in the Bible. The name came to be regarded by Jewish people (c. 300 BC) as too sacred to be spoken, and the vowel sounds are uncertain. |
yak | A large domesticated wild ox with shaggy hair, humped shoulders, and large horns, used in Tibet as a pack animal and for its milk, meat, and hide. Trivial or unduly persistent conversation. Talk at length about trivial or boring subjects. |
yaks | A large domesticated wild ox with shaggy hair, humped shoulders, and large horns, used in Tibet as a pack animal and for its milk, meat, and hide. Trivial or unduly persistent conversation. Talk at length about trivial or boring subjects. |
Yakut | A member of an indigenous people living in scattered settlements in northern Siberia. The Turkic language of the Yakut. Relating to the Yakut or their language. |
Yakuts | A member of an indigenous people living in scattered settlements in northern Siberia. The Turkic language of the Yakut. Relating to the Yakut or their language. |
yale | A type of lock with a latch bolt and a flat key with a serrated edge. |
yales | A type of lock with a latch bolt and a flat key with a serrated edge. |
yam | The edible starchy tuber of a climbing plant that is widely grown in tropical and subtropical countries. The cultivated plant that yields the yam. North American (of a cat) meow. |
Yama | (in Hindu legend) the first man to die. He became the guardian, judge, and ruler of the dead, and is represented as carrying a noose and riding a buffalo. |
yamen | The office or residence of a public official in the Chinese Empire. |
yammer | Talk foolishly or incessantly. Foolish or incessant talk. |
yammers | to utter repeated cries of distress or sorrow |
yams | The edible starchy tuber of a climbing plant that is widely grown in tropical and subtropical countries. The cultivated plant that yields the yam. North American (of a cat) meow. |
Yangtze | river 3915 miles (6299 kilometers) long in central China flowing from the Kunlun Mountains in southwestern Qinghai (province) east into the East China Sea |
yank | Pull with a jerk. A sudden hard pull. informal, mainly derogatory US |
Yankee | informal, often derogatory US informal A code word representing the letter Y, used in radio communication. |
Yankeedom | a native or inhabitant of New England |
Yankees | a native or inhabitant of New England |
yanks | Pull with a jerk. A sudden hard pull. informal, mainly derogatory US |
yap | Give a sharp, shrill bark. A sharp, shrill bark. North American |
yapok | A semiaquatic carnivorous opossum with dark-banded gray fur and webbed hind feet, native to tropical America. |
yapoks | A semiaquatic carnivorous opossum with dark-banded gray fur and webbed hind feet, native to tropical America. |
yapp | A form of bookbinding with a limp leather cover projecting to fold over the edges of the leaves, typically used for bibles. |
yapper | to talk in a shrill insistent way |
yaps | Give a sharp, shrill bark. A sharp, shrill bark. North American |
Yaqui | A member of a North American people of northwestern Mexico and Arizona. The Uto-Aztecan language of the Yaqui. Relating to the Yaqui or their language. |
yard | A cylindrical spar, tapering to each end, slung across a ship’s mast for a sail to hang from. US North American with objectno object |
yardage | A distance or length measured in yards. archaic |
yardages | the use of a livestock enclosure for animals in transit provided by a railroad at a station |
yardbird | a soldier assigned to a menial task or restricted to a limited area as a disciplinary measure |
yardman | A person working in a railroad or lumberyard. US |
yards | A cylindrical spar, tapering to each end, slung across a ship’s mast for a sail to hang from. US North American with objectno object |
yardstick | a graduated measuring stick three feet (0. 9144 meter) long |
yardsticks | a graduated measuring stick three feet (0. 9144 meter) long |
yarn | Spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing. informal Tell a long or implausible story. |
yarns | Spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing. informal Tell a long or implausible story. |
Yaroslavl | A port in western Russia, on the Volga River, northeast of Nizhni Novgorod; population 605,200 (est. 2008). |
yarrow | A Eurasian plant of the daisy family, with feathery leaves and heads of small white, yellow, or pink aromatic flowers. |
yataghans | a long knife or short saber that lacks a guard for the hand at the juncture of blade and hilt and that usually has a double curve to the edge and a nearly straight back |
yatter | Talk incessantly; chatter. Incessant talk. |
yaupons | A holly of the southeastern US with bitter leaves containing caffeine, traditionally dried and brewed as a drink by some North American Indian peoples. |
yaw | (of a moving ship or aircraft) twist or oscillate about a vertical axis. A twisting or oscillation of a moving ship or aircraft around a vertical axis. |
yawl | A two-masted fore-and-aft-rigged sailboat with the mizzenmast stepped far aft so that the mizzen boom overhangs the stern. |
yawls | A two-masted fore-and-aft-rigged sailboat with the mizzenmast stepped far aft so that the mizzen boom overhangs the stern. |
yawn | Involuntarily open one’s mouth wide and inhale deeply due to tiredness or boredom. (of an opening or space) be very large and wide. A reflex act of opening one’s mouth wide and inhaling deeply due to tiredness or boredom. |
yawner | A thing that is considered extremely boring. |
yawners | A thing that is considered extremely boring. |
yawns | Involuntarily open one’s mouth wide and inhale deeply due to tiredness or boredom. (of an opening or space) be very large and wide. A reflex act of opening one’s mouth wide and inhaling deeply due to tiredness or boredom. |
yawp | A harsh or hoarse cry or yelp. Shout or exclaim hoarsely. |
yawpers | to make a raucous noise |
yawps | A harsh or hoarse cry or yelp. Shout or exclaim hoarsely. |
yaws | A contagious disease of tropical countries, caused by a bacterium that enters skin abrasions and gives rise to small crusted lesions which may develop into deep ulcers. |
Y-chromosome | Y-chromosomes | Y-levels |
yabbers | yabby | yacca |
yachting | yachtings | yachtsmanship |
yachtswoman | yaffles | yakety-yak |
yakka | Yakutsk | Yalta |
Yamani | yamens | Yankeeism |
yapon | yapons | yappers |
yapps | Yarborough | yardang |
yardangs | yardbirds | yardmaster |
yardmasters | Yarmouth | yarmulka |
yarmulkas | yarmulke | yarmulkes |
yarraman | yarramans | yarrows |
yashmak | yashmaks | yataghan |
yate | yatters | yaud |
yauds | Yaunde | yaup |
yaupon | yawper |
77 Nouns Starting With YE
yea | Yes. An affirmative answer. |
year | The time taken by the earth to make one revolution around the sun. one’s yearsyearsA set of students grouped together as being of roughly similar ages, mostly entering a school or college in the same academic year. |
yearly | Done, produced, or occurring once a year or every year. Once a year or every year. |
years | The time taken by the earth to make one revolution around the sun. one’s yearsyearsA set of students grouped together as being of roughly similar ages, mostly entering a school or college in the same academic year. |
yeas | Yes. An affirmative answer. |
yeast | A microscopic fungus consisting of single oval cells that reproduce by budding, and are capable of converting sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. |
yeasts | A microscopic fungus consisting of single oval cells that reproduce by budding, and are capable of converting sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide. |
yegg | A burglar or safecracker. |
yell | A loud, sharp cry, especially of pain, surprise, or delight; a shout. Give a loud, sharp cry. |
yellow | Of the color between green and orange in the spectrum, a primary subtractive color complementary to blue; colored like ripe lemons or egg yolks. informal (of a book or newspaper) unscrupulously sensational. Yellow color or pigment. yellowsBecome yellow, especially with age. |
yells | A loud, sharp cry, especially of pain, surprise, or delight; a shout. Give a loud, sharp cry. |
yelp | A short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm. Utter a short sharp cry of pain or alarm. |
yelps | A short, sharp cry, especially of pain or alarm. Utter a short sharp cry of pain or alarm. |
Yemen | A country in the south and southwest of the Arabian peninsula; population 26,800,000 (estimated 2015); official language, Arabic; capital, Sana’a. Official name Yemen Republic. |
yen | The basic monetary unit of Japan. A longing or yearning. Feel a longing or yearning. |
yens | The basic monetary unit of Japan. A longing or yearning. Feel a longing or yearning. |
yenta | A woman who is a gossip or busybody. |
yentas | A woman who is a gossip or busybody. |
yeoman | historical historical historical |
Yerevan | The capital of Armenia; population 1,107,800 (est. 2008). |
yes | Used to give an affirmative response. Used as a response to someone addressing one or otherwise trying to attract one’s attention. Used to question a remark or ask for more detail about it. Encouraging someone to continue speaking. Expressing delight. An affirmative answer or decision, especially in voting. |
yeses | Used to give an affirmative response. Used as a response to someone addressing one or otherwise trying to attract one’s attention. Used to question a remark or ask for more detail about it. Encouraging someone to continue speaking. Expressing delight. An affirmative answer or decision, especially in voting. |
yeti | A large hairy creature resembling a human or bear, said to live in the highest part of the Himalayas. |
yetis | A large hairy creature resembling a human or bear, said to live in the highest part of the Himalayas. |
yew | A coniferous tree which has red berrylike fruits, and most parts of which are highly poisonous. Yews are linked with folklore and superstition and can live to a great age; the timber is used in cabinetmaking and (formerly) to make longbows. |
yews | A coniferous tree which has red berrylike fruits, and most parts of which are highly poisonous. Yews are linked with folklore and superstition and can live to a great age; the timber is used in cabinetmaking and (formerly) to make longbows. |
13 Words That Start With YG, YI, YL Nouns
Yggdrasil | Yiddish | yield |
yielding | yieldingness | yieldings |
yields | yike | yikes |
yip | yips | ylang-ylang |
ylem |
79 Nouns Beginning With YO
yob | A rude, noisy, and aggressive young person. |
yobs | A rude, noisy, and aggressive young person. |
yod | The tenth and smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Phonetics |
yoga | A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation. |
yogh | A Middle English letter (ʒ) used mainly where modern English has gh or y. |
yogi | A person who is proficient in yoga. |
yoke | A wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart that they are to pull. A part of a garment that fits over the shoulders and to which the main part of the garment is attached, typically in gathers or pleats. A frame fitting over the neck and shoulders of a person, used for carrying pails or baskets. The crossbar at the head of a rudder, to whose ends ropes are fastened. mainly North American A thing whose name one cannot recall, does not know, or does not wish to specify. |
yolk | The yellow internal part of a bird’s egg, which is surrounded by the white, is rich in protein and fat, and nourishes the developing embryo. |
yoni | The vulva, especially as a symbol of divine procreative energy conventionally represented by a circular stone. |
york | A city in northern England, on the Ouse River; population 136,900 (est. 2009). A commercial and industrial city in southeastern Pennsylvania; population 40,097 (est. 2008). The southwestern tip of Hayes Peninsula, on Baffin Bay in Greenland. It served as a base for US explorer Robert E. Peary’s polar expedition. A 100-ton meteorite found here was brought to the US by Peary. |
you | Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. Used to refer to any person in general. |
yowl | A loud wailing cry, especially one of pain or distress. Make a loud wailing cry. |
yo-yo | yo-yos | yobbo |
yobboes | yobbos | yodeler |
yodelers | yodeling | yodeller |
yodellers | yodels | yodle |
yodler | yodlers | yodles |
yoghourt | yoghourts | yoghurt |
yoghurts | yogini | yoginis |
yogurt | yogurts | yohimbine |
yokel | yokels | yokes |
Yoko | Yokohama | yolks |
yonis | Yonne | yore |
yores | Yorick | yorker |
yorkers | Yorkist | yorks |
Yorkshire | Yorktown | Yoruba |
Yorubas | Yosemite | you’d |
you’ll | you’re | you’ve |
young | youngberries | youngberry |
youngling | younglings | youngness |
youngster | youngsters | Youngstown |
younker | younkers | youth |
youthfulness | youths | yowling |
yowlings | yowls |
32 Nouns That Start With YP, YS, YT, YU, YV
Ypres | A town in northwestern Belgium, near the border with France, in the province of West Flanders; population 34,812 (2008). Ypres was the scene of some of the bitterest fighting of World War II. |
yuan | The basic monetary unit of China, equal to 10 jiao or 100 fen. A dynasty that ruled China AD 1259–1368, established by the Mongols under Kublai Khan. It preceded the Ming dynasty. |
yucca | A plant of the agave family with stiff swordlike leaves and spikes of white bell-shaped flowers that are dependent upon the yucca moth for fertilization, found especially in warm regions of North America and Mexico. |
yuk | Used to express strong distaste or disgust. Something messy or disgusting. Laugh heartily. A hearty laugh. |
Yukon | A river in northwestern North America that rises in Yukon Territory in northwestern Canada and flows west for 1,870 miles (3,020 km) through central Alaska to the Bering Sea. |
yuks | Used to express strong distaste or disgust. Something messy or disgusting. Laugh heartily. A hearty laugh. |
yulan | A Chinese magnolia with showy white flowers. |
yurt | A circular tent of felt or skins on a collapsible framework, used by nomads in Mongolia, Siberia, and Turkey. |
Yseult | ytterbia | ytterbium |
yttria | yttrium | yuccas |
Yugoslav | Yugoslavia | Yugoslavian |
Yugoslavians | Yugoslavs | yukes |
yulans | yule | yules |
yuletide | yuletides | yuppie |
yuppies | yurts | Yvelines |
Yves | Yvette | Yvonne |
Conclusion
When it comes to nouns that start with Y, there are plenty to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a word that describes someone who is young or a word that describes a yellow object, you’re sure to find it on this list. So, the next time you’re stuck for a word that starts with Y, be sure to reference this list.
A big thank you to the English language for giving us so many amazing words that start with Y!
What’s your favourite noun that starts with Y? Let us know in the comments below!