# yap

> English word · Noun · IPA /jæp/ · frequency rank #31,418

## Definitions
1. The high-pitched bark of a small dog, or similar.
2. Casual talk; chatter.
3. The mouth, which produces speech.
4. A badly behaved person, especially a child.
5. A fool.

## Etymology
Probably of imitative origin. Alternatively, from dialectal yap, yaup, yalp (“to yap, yelp”), from Middle English ȝælpen, variant of yelpen (“to yelp”). More at yelp.

## Easily confused with
- **yo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yo)
- **ye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-ye)
- **yu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yu)
- **yr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yr)
- **Yi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yi)
- **yt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yt)
- **Ys** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-ys)
- **YG** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yg)
- **YP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yp)
- **you** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-you)
- **yet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yet)
- **yes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yes)
- **yep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yep)
- **yea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yea)
- **yup** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yup)
- **yay** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yay)
- **yen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yen)
- **yrs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yrs)
- **yoo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yoo)
- **yum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/yap-vs-yum)

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/yap