# yar

> English word · Verb · IPA /jɑː/ · frequency rank #39,656

## Definitions
1. To snarl; to gnar.
2. To growl, especially like a dog; quarrel; to be captious or troublesome.

## Etymology
From Middle English ȝaren, ȝurren, ȝeorren, from Old English ġeorran, ġirran, gyrran (“to sound, chatter, grunt, creak, grate”), from Proto-Germanic *gerraną (“to creak”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰer- (“to make a noise, rattle, gurgle, grumble”). Cognate with Scots yarr, yirr (“to snarl, growl, quarrel, cause trouble”), Middle High German girren (“to roar, cry, rattle, chatter”).

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

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