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yakety-yak

or yack·e·ty-yak, yack·e·ty-yack

[ yak-i-tee-yak ]
/ ˈyæk ɪ tiˈyæk /
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verb (used without object), noun yak·e·ty-yakked, yak·e·ty-yak·king,
Slang. yak2.
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Sometimes yak·i·ty-yak .

Origin of yakety-yak

First recorded in 1945–50; apparently imitative

Words nearby yakety-yak

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

MORE ABOUT YAKETY YAK

What does yakety-yak mean?

Yakety-yak is a slang term for aimless, pointless talk, especially when it goes on and on.

The related slang term yak is most commonly used as a verb that means to talk, especially aimlessly, without stopping, and about unimportant things. Yak is also spelled yack and yakety-yak can also be spelled yackety-yak, yackety-yack, or yakity-yak. Yack (or yak) is also sometimes used as a noun to mean the same thing as yakety-yak, as is the word yakking (or yacking), as in Quit your yakking!

Yakety-yak is the kind of trivial conversation that results from people yakking. Both terms are typically used at least somewhat negatively to criticize talking in such a way and imply that it is annoying or excessive.

Example: Would you two stop your yakety-yak and come help us?

Where does yakety-yak come from?

Terms like yak and yakety-yak are first recorded around the 1940s in the U.S. They are based on an imitation of the sound of background chatter.

Words like yakety-yak and its synonyms are often used in requests to stop such talk or in complaints about it, as in Quit that yakety-yak! or Stop your yakking!  Such terms especially imply that such talk is continuous and not about anything of substance.

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What are some other forms related to yakety-yak?

  • yackety-yak (alternate spelling)
  • yackety-yack (alternate spelling)
  • yakity-yak (alternate spelling)

What are some synonyms for yakety-yak?

What are some words that share a root or word element with yakety-yak

What are some words that often get used in discussing yakety-yak?

How is yakety-yak used in real life?

Yakety-yak is extremely informal. It is often used in at least a mildly negative way to imply that such talk is annoying.

 

Try using yakety-yak!

Which of the following words is a synonym of yakety-yak?

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

How to use yakety-yak in a sentence

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