yack

[ yak ]

verb (used without object)

, Slang.

1. yak ².

yack

/ jæk /

noun

1. See yak
   a variant spelling of yak 2

Other Words From

• yacker noun

Example Sentences

Tom perceived Andrew's useless emulation, and with a sound translated by 'yack,' sent his leg out a long way.

From Project Gutenberg

Ahoy, vere is dot Yack vot vants to go midt us py der Somprero Lighdt?

From Project Gutenberg

This latter name accords with Macgillivray's mode of spelling its note, yack chuck, harsh enough, no one will deny.

From Project Gutenberg

"If you like to find that jong lady, I put Yack on the trail quick," he offered placatingly.

From Project Gutenberg

Church a yack (or watch), to take the works of a watch from its original case, and put them into another one, to avoid detection.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Yack

What does yack mean?

Yack is a slang term that means to talk, especially aimlessly, without stopping, and about unimportant things. It is also spelled yak.

Yack is typically used at least somewhat negatively to criticize talking in such a way and imply that it is annoying or excessive, as in Would you two stop yacking and help us? The verbs yap, yammer, and jabber are close synonyms.

The related slang term yackety-yak is a noun referring to the kind of continuous and trivial conversation or talk that results from yacking. The word yack is sometimes used as a noun to mean the same thing, as is the word yacking, as in I can’t hear myself think with all that yacking. The word chatter can be used as a synonym of both the noun and verb sense of yack.

Unrelatedly, yack is sometimes also used as a slang term meaning to vomit, as in Ugh, I feel like I’m going to yack.

Example: My mom yacks on the phone with my aunt for hours about anything and everything.

Where does yack come from?

The first records of yack and yak as slang terms come from around the 1940s from the U.S. They are based on an imitation of the sound of background chatter.

Words like yack and its close synonyms are often used in requests to stop such talk or in complaints about it, as in Quit yacking! or Stop yapping! The words gab and chat can mean the same thing, but they are often used in more neutral or even positive ways. Still, yack isn’t always used in a completely negative way—a person might say that they love to yack with their friends, implying that they enjoy talking for a long time even if the conversation isn’t about anything of substance.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to yack?

• yak (alternate spelling)
• yacking (continuous tense verb, noun)
• yacker (noun)

What are some synonyms for yack?

• yap
• yammer
• chatter
• jabber
• prattle
• prate
• babble
• chew the fat
• gab
• chat
• talk

What are some words that share a root or word element with yack? 

• yackety-yak

What are some words that often get used in discussing yack?

• smalltalk
• conversation
• endless
• trivial
• unimportant
• complain
• on and on
• phone
• yadda yadda yadda
• blah-blah-blah

How is yack used in real life?

Yack is often used in at least a mildly negative way to imply that talking in such a way is annoying.

For dessert I'd love a sticky toffee and the people seated next to me to stop yacking on the phone. #thankyou

— HelloNance (@hellonance) May 21, 2012

Watching the mens US Open Finals and as much as I like the commentators, they need to Stop yacking so much.

— Diane Fassett (@defasse) September 13, 2020

You see it in retired field experts who take to tinkering with their time off. Hell I watched my father do the same. Worked in corporate R&D his whole life, now just chills in the shop pumping out patents and yacking on the phone to old work buddies doing similar

— Very Tired Shop Owner (@NewEricHoffer) September 2, 2018

Try using yack!

Which of the following words is a synonym of yack?

A. gab
B. jabber
C. chatter
D. all of the above