yo

¹ American  

[yoh] / yoʊ /

interjection

1. (used as an exclamation to get someone's attention, express excitement, greet someone, etc.)

2. here; present: used especially in answer to a roll call.

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y.o. ² American  

abbreviation

1. year old; years old.

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yo British  

/ jəʊ /

1. an expression used as a greeting, to attract someone's attention, etc

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Usage

What is a basic definition of yo? Yo is an interjection that is used for getting someone’s attention, greeting someone, or expressing strong feelings. Yo is also used to mean “here” or “present,” as in response to a roll call.Yo is a very flexible interjection that is used similarly to hey. The specific meaning of yo depends on the context it is used in. Yo is most often used informally and wouldn’t be used in formal writing that isn’t quotes or dialogue.

• Real-life examples: You might greet a pal with a friendly “Yo!” Or you might try to get the attention of a distracted driver with an angry “Yo!”
• Used in a sentence: Yo, Teddy! How is it going? 

Yo is also used to mean “here” or “present,” especially in response to someone calling your name.

• Real-life examples: It might be too casual to say yo when your teacher reads your name during roll call, but your basketball coach probably won’t mind. And when someone asks who in a group wants pizza, you can definitely raise your hand and say “Yo!” to mean that you do.

Etymology

Origin of yo

late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425

Example Sentences

“Yo, I’m not keeping your spot in this line, cousin, not if you’re gonna—” Kiki cut herself off.

From Literature

“I walked out to the end of the stage and made eye contact with Annie,” he wrote in his audiobook memoir, “Unlikely Rockstar—The Tommy DeCarlo Story,” “I raised both hands over my head, as if in victory, and that was my, ‘yo, Adrian, I did it’ moment.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“Probably twice a week, I’ll call him, ‘Yo, I have this idea,’” Spalding said of his conversations with Mirabal.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, with them huddled around, he opened the email and everyone started screaming, “Yo!”

From Los Angeles Times

She co-wrote the tender love song “Tú y Yo X Siempre” with Os; the two also collaborated on “Días Tristes,” which is reminiscent of the moody ‘80s pop anthem by Jeanette, “El Muchacho De Los Ojos Tristes.”

From Los Angeles Times