33 Common Phrasal Verbs Starting with Y | Learn English

33 Common Phrasal Verbs Starting with Y

Published on: June 8, 2026 | English-learning resource for Y-initial phrasal verbs.

Phrasal verbs starting with Y are rare, but they can still appear in English texts and conversations. Below you will find 33 common phrasal verbs starting with Y, each with a short example sentence in English.

1. Yank away – pull something suddenly
   Example: He yanked away his hand.
2. Yield to – give in or submit
   Example: The driver yielded to the other car.
3. Yarn about – talk at length informally
   Example: They yarned about old times.
4. Yaw away – turn away slightly
   Example: The ship yawed away from the dock.
5. Yaw out – move out by turning
   Example: The boat yawed out into the river.
6. Yelp out – cry out sharply
   Example: She yelped out in pain.
7. Yell at – shout angrily at someone
   Example: He yelled at his brother.
8. Yell for – shout to get attention or ask for something
   Example: The child yelled for help.
9. Yank out – pull out suddenly
   Example: He yanked out the plug.
10. Yearn for – want something deeply
    Example: She yearned for her hometown.
11. Yoke together – join or connect
    Example: The farmers yoked the oxen together.
12. Yoke up – put a yoke on
    Example: They yoked up the horses.
13. Yap at – talk noisily or nag
    Example: The dog yapped at the visitors.
14. Yawn over – be bored by something
    Example: He yawned over the long lecture.
15. Yoke onto – attach with a yoke
    Example: They yoked the carts onto the team.
16. Yield up – surrender or give up
    Example: The soldier yielded up his weapon.
17. Yank off – remove quickly by pulling
    Example: She yanked off her gloves.
18. Yearn after – long for
    Example: He yearned after a peaceful life.
19. Yell out – shout loudly
    Example: Someone yelled out his name.
20. Yoke around – connect loosely
    Example: The rope was yoked around the posts.
21. Yoke off – detach a yoke
    Example: They yoked off the harness.
22. Yelp at – make a sharp cry at something
    Example: The puppy yelped at the loud sound.
23. Yaw around – turn from side to side
    Example: The plane yawed around in the wind.
24. Yearn over – long intensely for
    Example: She yearned over her lost family.
25. Yield on – give in on a point
    Example: The manager yielded on the deadline.
26. Yank up – pull upward quickly
    Example: He yanked up the rope.
27. Yell back – shout in response
    Example: She yelled back from the other room.
28. Yoke in – include or connect by a yoke
    Example: The horses were yoked in pairs.
29. Yarn on – keep talking lengthily
    Example: He yarned on for hours.
30. Yelp for – cry out asking for something
    Example: The child yelped for his mother.
31. Yawn at – show boredom toward something
    Example: They yawned at the boring speech.
32. Yoke with – connect with a yoke
    Example: The cart was yoked with the oxen.
33. Yield away – slowly give way
    Example: The ground yielded away underfoot.

Content type: Educational English-learning resource. SEO-friendly list of phrasal verbs starting with Y.

 

   33 Common Phrasal Verbs Starting with Y