yam

American  

[yam] / yæm /

noun

1. the starchy, tuberous root of any of various climbing vines of the genus Dioscorea, cultivated for food in warm regions.

2. any of these plants.

3. the sweet potato.

4. Scot. potato.

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yam British  

/ jæm /

noun

1. any of various twining plants of the genus Dioscorea, of tropical and subtropical regions, cultivated for their edible tubers: family Dioscoreaceae

2. the starchy tuber of any of these plants, which is eaten as a vegetable

3. any of certain large varieties of sweet potato

4. a former Scot name for the (common) potato

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Etymology

Origin of yam

First recorded in 1580–90; compare Gullah nyam, Jamaican English nyaams, Sranan jamsi, from sources in one or more West African languages (compare Wolof nyam (nyam), Fulani nyami “to eat,” Twi εnãm “flesh”); earlier English forms, from Portuguese inhame or Spanish (i)ñame

Explanation

A yam is a starchy vegetable that grows underground. Yams are similar to potatoes — they can be baked, boiled, mashed, grated, or cut into chunks. In North America, a yam is the same thing as a sweet potato, although in most parts of the world these words refer to two completely different vegetables. Yams have flesh that ranges in color from white to deep orange and tastes slightly sweet. The word yam started as igname, from the Portuguese inhame, from a West African source.

Example Sentences

Bat Yam, just south of Tel Aviv, has long been a stronghold of support for Israel's right-wing governing coalition.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 2025

Times staffer Marcus Yam and special correspondent Asala Zreiqi in Ramallah contributed to this report.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2024

Yam might mean money, but also so many different things.

From Salon • Nov. 22, 2023

“All we have is bits and pieces of information,” said Neumann, who lives in Bat Yam, a city just south of Tel Aviv.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 9, 2023

So when Papa finally decided to, after extensive talks with the parish priest and insisting that all pagan undertones be removed from his title-taking ceremony, it was like a mini New Yam festival.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie