What does yack mean?
Yack means to talk loudly and at length, usually in a way that is prolonged, noisy, or irritating. It can be used as a verb, as in “stop yacking,” or as a noun referring to the talk itself. The word is chiefly informal and often carries an amused or mildly critical tone: someone who yacks may be insisting on a subject, speaking without giving others a chance to respond, or simply making more noise than the situation warrants. Related expressions include “yack on,” “yack on at,” and “yack away.” Although similar in sound to “yap” and “yak,” yack is normally associated with sustained vocal noise rather than rapid high-pitched chatter or vomiting. The word is useful because it captures both the volume and persistence of unwelcome talking, often with a humorous edge.
To talk loudly and continuously, especially at length or in a tiresome way.
"She yacked on to me about the traffic for the entire journey."
Informal; often implies that the talking is noisy, persistent, or annoying.
Loud or prolonged talking, especially when it is tiresome or excessive.
"Their loud yack carried across the restaurant."
Chiefly informal and often mildly disparaging.
The plural is standard but uncommon because the noun is often used in the singular or as a mass noun for prolonged talking.
"The neighbors' yacks were audible through the wall."
Yack captures the sound of talking loudly and endlessly: it suggests both volume and persistence, not necessarily wit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does yack come from?
Yack is an English imitative word associated with the older expression “yackety-yack,” which denotes continual or tiresome chatter. “Yackety-yack” is itself formed from the repeated sound-pattern “yackety-yack,” and “yack” became the shorter, independently used form. The exact model from which the imitation was made is not securely established.
Related word forms
How yack is actually used
Yack is informal and commonly sounds amused, dismissive, or slightly annoyed. It is especially common in British and North American speech but is not limited to a single region. The particle verbs “yack on” and “yack away” suggest continuing talk with little interruption.
Easily confused with yack
Yack emphasizes loud or prolonged talking, whereas yap more often suggests rapid, high-pitched chatter.
Yack means to talk loudly and at length, while yak means to vomit.