How to pronounce yank
Say it like YANGK. Yank is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce yank. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YANGK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Yank pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YANGKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of yank
American and British speakers say yank in essentially the same way: /jæŋk/ in the US and /jæŋk/ in the UK.
British respelling: YANGK.
What does yank mean?
- A sudden, vigorous pull (sometimes defined as mass times jerk, or rate of change of force).“He unjammed the rope with a short yank.”
- Alternative form of shank (“stabbing weapon”).
- The rate of change in force with respect to time.
- To pull (something) with a quick, strong action.
- To remove; to recall or revoke.“They yanked the product as soon as they learned it was unsafe.”
Where does yank come from?
Attested since 1822; from Scots yank.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with yank
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of yank.
Questions about saying yank
How do you pronounce yank?
Say YANGK. The American pronunciation is /jæŋk/. In British English it is /jæŋk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in yank?
Yank is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: YANGK.
Do Americans and Brits say yank the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /jæŋk/ and the British form is /jæŋk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.