Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🔤 A letter 💬 Short for 'why'
y

y

9.9
A single letter used in messages to ask why
  • adverb
  • Texting
translation icon : por qué
  • She asked him y? He shrugged and didn't respond.

Examples

  • When he received my message, he simply replied with y.

  • They are fleeing persecution for X or Y reason.

  • YOU DIDN'T THINK I COULD HANDLE IT, SO Y-YOU SET ALL THIS UP !

    Meet the Deedles (1998)

  • Can you tell me why you chose that color for the room? I want to know the y.

Compounds

Y chromosome
  • Specialized
7 5.5

A part of cells in males that helps decide male body features

regression of y on x
  • Specialized
8.7

A method that predicts the value of y from x using numbers

y-axis
  • Specialized
4.0

The vertical line on a graph that shows measured values

Y-shaped coffin
9.9

A coffin with three arms that meet at one end to form a Y shape

Y-linked gene
  • Specialized
7.5

A gene on the Y chromosome that only fathers pass to their sons

Surface Forms

y positive

Etymology

Y used as a text message short form comes from the word why, because the letter y sounds like 'why', so people type y to ask for a reason quickly.