WordGarden.ioyack
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /jˈæk/
US
- /ˈjæk/
Meanings
Verb
to talk casually or at length, often about unimportant things
to vomit
Noun
casual or unnecessary talk; chatter
Beyond the definition
To "yack" usually means to talk on and on, often about small or unimportant things. It is an informal, playful word for chatting, gossiping, or rambling for a long time. If your aunt calls and starts to yack about her neighbor's new curtains, prepare for a long phone call. In some contexts, especially in casual American English, it can also mean to vomit, but the "talk too much" sense is more common.
The verb "yack" usually describes talking at length in an informal, chatty, and sometimes rambling way. It suggests nonstop chatter, often about things that are not very important. Imagine two friends catching up over coffee: they might yack for hours about their day, sharing every little detail. Or picture a character in a story who never seems to stop talking; you could say they could yack for ages.
The word has a casual, slightly funny tone, and it often hints that the speaker is talking more than anyone really wants to hear. Because of that, it can suggest that the conversation is one-sided or a bit tiring. If someone is "yacking" your ear off, they are talking so much that you wish they would stop.
There is also another slang use of "yack": in some contexts, it means to vomit. You might hear someone say they "yacked" after eating something bad or after getting carsick. That meaning is less elegant and very informal, but it is common enough that it is worth knowing.
So in everyday English, yack most often points to long, loose, nonstop talking, but now and then it also means throwing up. The setting usually makes the meaning clear right away.
Examples
- 1
Casual conversation
We sat on the porch yacking until it got dark.
- 2
Annoying talk
He kept yacking on about his new phone all through dinner.
- Patternyack on about + topic
keep talking about it for too long
- 3
Direct command
"Stop yacking and help me with these boxes," Dad said.
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- yacknounverb