Building a strong vocabulary is essential for young learners as it lays the foundation for effective communication and academic success. Words that begin with the letter “Y” offer a unique opportunity to introduce children to diverse and interesting concepts. From animals like “yak” to everyday objects such as “yarn,” these words help to expand a child’s understanding of the world around them.
List of Elementary words beginning with Y
Yard
Yarn
Yawn
Yellow
Yes
Yesterday
Yolk
Young
Yummy
Yell
Yacht
Yawned
Yelling
Youth
Year
Yellowish
Youthful
Yearly
Yonder
Yoke
Youngster
Yardstick
Yearn
Yolked
Yearned
Yawning
Foundation/Elementary words beginning with Y with meaning and examples
Yard
Meaning: A unit of measurement equal to three feet; an open space next to a house or building.
Example: The children played in the yard after school.
Yarn
Meaning: A long, continuous length of interlocked fibers, often used for knitting or weaving.
Example: Grandma knitted a sweater using blue yarn.
Yawn
Meaning: To open one’s mouth wide and breathe in deeply due to tiredness or boredom.
Example: He couldn’t stop yawning during the boring lecture.
Yellow
Meaning: The color between green and orange in the spectrum, like that of a ripe lemon or sunflowers.
Example: She wore a bright yellow dress to the party.
Yes
Meaning: An affirmative answer or agreement.
Example: She asked if he would like some ice cream, and he said yes.
Yesterday
Meaning: The day before today.
Example: We went to the beach yesterday.
Yolk
Meaning: The yellow inner part of an egg, which is rich in protein and fat.
Example: The recipe calls for two egg yolks.
Young
Meaning: Having lived or existed for only a short time; not old.
Example: The young puppy played with its new toy.
Yummy
Meaning: Delicious or tasty.
Example: The cake she baked was absolutely yummy.
Yell
Meaning: To shout or scream loudly.
Example: He had to yell to be heard over the loud music.
Yacht
Meaning: A medium-sized sailboat equipped for cruising or racing.
Example: They spent the weekend sailing on their yacht.
Yawned
Meaning: Past tense of yawn; to have opened one’s mouth wide and breathed in deeply due to tiredness or boredom.
Example: She yawned and stretched as she woke up.
Yelling
Meaning: Present participle of yell; shouting or screaming loudly.
Example: The coach was yelling instructions to the team.
Youth
Meaning: The period between childhood and adult age; young people collectively.
Example: In his youth, he was an avid skateboarder.
Year
Meaning: A period of 365 days (or 366 in a leap year) used for timekeeping.
Example: This year, they plan to travel to Europe.
Yellowish
Meaning: Slightly yellow in color.
Example: The pages of the old book were yellowish.
Youthful
Meaning: Having the qualities typical of young people, such as energy and enthusiasm.
Example: Her youthful spirit was contagious.
Yearly
Meaning: Happening or produced once a year.
Example: They have a yearly family reunion every summer.
Yonder
Meaning: At some distance in the direction indicated; over there.
Example: Look at the hills yonder, covered in mist.
Yoke
Meaning: A wooden crosspiece fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plow or cart they are to pull.
Example: The farmer placed the yoke on the oxen.
Youngster
Meaning: A child or young person.
Example: The youngsters enjoyed playing in the park.
Yardstick
Meaning: A measuring stick one yard long, typically divided into inches.
Example: She used a yardstick to measure the length of the fabric.
Yearn
Meaning: To have an intense feeling of longing for something, typically something that one has lost or been separated from.
Example: He yearned for the days of his youth.
Yolked
Meaning: Having a yolk or being equipped with a yoke.
Example: The hen had yolked eggs.
Yearned
Meaning: Past tense of yearn; to have longed for something.
Example: She yearned for a chance to see her family again.
Yawning
Meaning: Present participle of yawn; opening the mouth wide and inhaling deeply due to tiredness or boredom.
Example: The movie was so boring that everyone was yawning.
