50 Words That Start With Y For Kids (2024)

Are you looking for Y words for kids? You’re in the right place!

Building a strong vocabulary and language skills is essential for learners from a young age, and what better way to make it fun and engaging than exploring words that start with the letter “Y”! 

From yodeling to yummy treats, the letter “Y” offers a world of exciting possibilities. In this blog post, we have curated a list of 100 kid-friendly words that start with “Y” to help expand your child’s vocabulary. 

From easy three letter words and up, this comprehensive list of words will keep your kids and students learning and practicing all year long.

Having them write these words or put them into simple sentences is a great way to acquaint them with this tricky letter.

So, let’s dive into some common words that start with Y:

1. Yip: A short, high-pitched sound made by small animals like dogs or foxes.
2. Yes: An affirmative response or agreement. (This would be a good word on a list of sight words.)
3. Yet: Up until now; so far; nevertheless.
4. Yaw: A twisting or turning motion, especially of a moving vehicle or aircraft, off its intended course.
5. Yay: An exclamation used to express joy, excitement, or approval.
6. You: Referring to the person or people being spoken or written to. (This would be a good word on a list of sight words.)
7. Yen: A unit of currency in Japan.
8. Yew:  A type of evergreen tree with dark green leaves and red berries, often associated with old churchyards.
9. Year: A period of 365 or 366 days, representing the time it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit around the sun.
10. Yawn: Opening one’s mouth wide involuntarily when tired or bored, often accompanied by a deep inhalation.
11. Yoga: A physical, mental, and spiritual discipline originating from ancient India, involving various postures, breathing exercises, and meditation.
12. Yolk: An egg yolk is the yellow, nutrient-rich part of an egg, surrounded by the egg white.
13. Yarn: A long, continuous strand of fibers, often used for knitting, crocheting, or weaving.
14. Yeti: A legendary, ape-like creature believed to inhabit the Himalayas, also known as the “Abominable Snowman.”
15. Yule: Referring to the Christmas season or the time around the winter solstice, particularly in old English traditions.
16. Yawn: Opening one’s mouth wide involuntarily when tired or bored, often accompanied by a deep inhalation.
17. Yell: To shout loudly or forcefully, typically to express anger, excitement, or fear.
18. Yuan: The basic unit of currency in China, also known as the renminbi.
19. Yo-yo: A toy consisting of a string and a spool that goes up and down.
20. Yard: The area of land surrounding a house.
21. Yelp: A sharp, high-pitched cry, often made by a dog.
22. Yield: To produce or provide something, often used in the context of crops or results.
23. Yacht: A luxurious recreational boat used for pleasure cruising or racing.
24. Yearn: To have a strong desire or longing for something.
25. Yodel: To sing in a way that involves alternating between a high and low pitch, often associated with mountainous regions and folk music.
26. Yukon: A territory in Canada known for its vast wilderness, mountains, and gold rush history.
27. Youth: The period of being young, typically referring to adolescence or early adulthood.
28. Yucky: An informal term used to describe something distasteful, unpleasant, or disgusting.
29. Yahoo: An exclamation used to express excitement, enthusiasm, or joy.
30. Yonder: Referring to a location that is situated at a distance, typically used to indicate something far away.
31. Yippee: An exclamation used to express joy, excitement, or triumph.
32. Yogurt: A creamy, tangy food made from fermented milk.
33. Yearbook: A book published at the end of the school year with photos and memories.
34. Yardstick: A long, narrow strip used for measuring.
35. Yesteryear: A term used to refer to the past, especially a previous era.
36. Yankee: A term used for a person from the United States, especially from the northern states.
37. Yiddish: A language spoken by Ashkenazi Jews, originating in Central and Eastern Europe.
38. Yesterday: The day before today, often used to refer to the recent past.
39. Yourself: The reflexive form of “you,” referring to the person being addressed or spoken about.
40. Yule log:  “Tronco de Navidad” in Spanish, refers to a traditional Christmas dessert.
41. Yuletide: The Christmas season or the time around the winter solstice, often associated with festive celebrations and traditions.

Animals:

1. Yak: A wild yak is a large, shaggy-haired ox found in the Himalayas.
2. Yellow Jacket: Yellow jackets are small, aggressive wasps known for their yellow and black markings.
3. Yellow baboon: A species of baboon native to the grasslands and savannas of eastern and southern Africa

Descriptive Words:

Here are some adjectives – or descriptive words – with Y as the first letter of the word:

1. Yummy: An adjective used to describe something delicious or tasty.
2. Yellow: The color of sunshine and lemons, often associated with brightness and happiness.
3. Young: Describing someone or something in the early stages of life or development.

Spanish Words

1. Yo – This common Spanish word mean “I” (pronoun referring to oneself)
2. Ya – “already” or “now” (adverb indicating a completed action or current time)
3. Yate – “yacht” (noun referring to a luxurious recreational boat)
4. Yo-yo – “yo-yo” (noun for the toy consisting of a spool and string)
5. Yema – “yolk” (noun referring to the yellow part of an egg)
6. Yerno – “son-in-law” (noun for the husband of one’s daughter)
7. Yodo – “iodine” (noun for the chemical element)

Drawing the lowercase letter y:

1. Start by drawing a slightly curved, vertical line from the top to the bottom. This will be the stem of the “y.”
2. From the bottom end of the stem, draw a small, curved line outward to the right at a slight angle.
3. Bring the line back towards the left and curve it downwards, forming a rounded loop.
4. Once you reach the baseline, bring the line back up slightly, creating a small tail that extends above the loop.
5. Finally, add a small dot or serif to the upper right end of the stem, just above the loop.

Drawing the uppercase letter y:

1. Begin by drawing a vertical line from the top to the bottom, slightly longer than the height of the lowercase letters.
2. From the top of the line, draw two diagonal lines that slant outward in a V-shape, meeting the baseline at an angle.
3. Connect the two diagonal lines at the bottom with a horizontal line, creating a wide, upside-down “V” shape.
4. Add two short, horizontal lines at the top and bottom of the vertical line, perpendicular to it, to complete the letter.

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Exploring words that start with the letter “Y” can be a delightful and enriching experience for young minds.

This list of over 50 words provides an array of vocabulary that engages and expands children’s linguistic abilities. 

We hope this list was helpful and provides some wonderful learning opportunities for you and your students.

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