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to yak

to yak

4 8.1
To talk a lot about unimportant things
  • verb
  • /jæk/
  • Informal
translation icon : parlotear
  • Every time we meet, we just yak for hours about everything.

But I hear somebody really yakking, causing a huge ruckus.

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Examples

  • We can yak about our favorite movies over lunch.

  • Meanwhile, the kids want to date, hang out at the mall, and yak on the phone.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Have a cup of coffee and yak up old times?

  • Well, maybe you need somebody to yak at the enemy, huh?

  • I yak when I get nervous.

  • Why do I have to yak about my business?

    Fiction book (2000)
  • I just like to yak.

  • Hey, kid, I'm not paying you to yak.

  • I've even come to enjoy these walks, especially when I have a companion to yak away at.

    Blog text (14)
  • They sit in my station, they yak about renovating their houses.

Synonyms

to chat
vsto yak
  • Informal
269 1.0

To talk in a friendly, informal way about small everyday things

is the same casual idea but may be more nonstop and tiring
to chatter
vsto yak
86 2.7

To talk quickly and without stopping about unimportant things

is similar but often implies more repetition or boredom
to yammer
vsto yak
  • Informal
14 9.0

Talk loudly for a long time while complaining

shares repetition but focuses more on informal trivial talk
to chit-chat
vsto yak
  • Informal
5 4.1

To talk in a friendly, light way about unimportant things

is related but often involves more continuous or endless talking
to rattle on
vsto yak
  • Informal
5 6.6

To talk for a long time about small boring things

is similar but may not always imply boredom for listeners
to yack
vsto yak
  • Informal
3 8.8

To talk a lot about unimportant things in an annoying way

is the same idea but can be less consistently annoying
to clack
vsto yak
  • Archaic
3 8.4

To talk quickly about small, unimportant things

is alike but can be less rapid and more aimless
to yap
vsto yak
  • Informal
2 7.7

To talk a lot in an annoying, noisy way

is similar but often less loud and more chatty
to yap away
vsto yak
  • Informal
1 8.4

To talk without stopping in an annoying way

is similar but can be less focused on annoyance
to gabble
vsto yak
1 7.9

To talk quickly and unclearly so others cannot understand you

is alike but does not always imply poor clarity
to gab
vsto yak
  • Informal
1 6.9

To talk a lot about small unimportant things

focuses on constant talking rather than friendly social chat
to yack away
vsto yak
  • Informal
1 9.1

Talk for a long time in a way that annoys other people

is similar but can be more informal and less aggressive
to rabbit on
vsto yak
  • UK
1 8.7

To talk for a long time in a noisy, excited way about small things

is similar but can be less noisy and more steady
to overtalk
vsto yak
1 6.4

To talk so much that you stop others from speaking

overlaps in excess talking but focuses on dominating conversation
to yabber
vsto yak
  • Australian
9.9

To talk quickly and without stopping about unimportant things

is the same habit but sometimes slower or more casual
to gassing
vsto yak
  • UK
8.1

To talk a lot about unimportant things

is more about nonstop talking and can be more tiring
to jawbone
vsto yak
  • Informal
9.3

Talk in a friendly, relaxed way

is similar but can be less friendly and more wearisome
to twaddle
vsto yak
  • Archaic
9.0

To talk for a long time about unimportant things in a silly way

is alike but may not always imply nonsense or rapid speech

Antonyms

1.0

Pay attention to sounds or speech to hear and understand them

231 1.0

To stop making noise or talking

Compounds

yak butter
  • Indian
1 7.4

A type of butter made from yak milk used in Tibetan and Himalayan cooking

yakety-yak
  • Archaic
1 9.7

A lot of noisy talking about not important things

How Talkative

to yak
  • Informal
4 8.1
to ramble
  • Informal
48 5.3
chat
  • Informal
312 1.0
to speak
1.0
to say
1.0

Surface Forms

yak infinitive
yakked past
yakked past participle
yakking present participle
yaks third person singular

Etymology

Yak 'to talk incessantly' comes from the same chatty sound idea, like yakety-yak, so to yak is to keep talking, often about small or unimportant things.