How Do You Spell YAWN?

Pronunciation: [jˈɔːn] (IPA)

The word "yawn" is spelled with a 'y' at the beginning, representing the voiced palatal approximant, 'j' sound (phonetically transcribed as /j/). It is followed by an 'a', pronounced as the low front vowel, 'æ' (phonetically transcribed as /æ/). The third letter in 'yawn' is a silent 'w', which is there because of the word's history as a Germanic word where the letter 'w' did represent a sound, but over time stopped being pronounced. The final letter in 'yawn' is an 'n', pronounced as the voiced alveolar nasal, 'n' sound (phonetically transcribed as /n/).

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
Similar spelling words
Plural
Conjugate verb
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YAWN Meaning and Definition

  1. Yawn is both a verb and a noun, representing an involuntary action or a physical expression typically associated with tiredness or boredom. As a verb, it refers to the act of opening one's mouth wide and inhaling deeply due to a reflexive response or drowsiness. This action is often accompanied by an exhalation or audible sound and includes stretching of the jaw and throat muscles. Yawning is an instinctive behavior seen not only in humans but also in various animals, which may serve multiple purposes such as oxygen intake, regulating brain temperature, or social signaling.

    As a noun, a yawn denotes the physical gesture or expression itself, characterized by an open mouth and often accompanied by stretching or raising of the arms. The term is commonly associated with fatigue, drowsiness, or lack of interest, suggesting a bored or disinterested state of mind. It can also imply contagiousness, as witnessing someone else yawn often triggers the response in others due to a phenomenon called reflexive yawn. In social settings, a yawn may be perceived as a sign of disrespect or inattention, though it is primarily a reflexive action unrelated to intention or rudeness.

    Overall, whether used as a verb or noun, yawn encompasses an instinctive response, typically associated with tiredness or boredom, involving the opening of the mouth and deep inhalations, often followed by an exhalation and stretching.

  2. 1. To gape. 2. An involuntary opening of the mouth, usually accompanied by a movement of respiration; it may be a sign of drowsiness or of vital depression, as after hemorrhage, but is often caused by suggestion.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

  3. • To open wide the mouth through drowsiness or weariness; to gape; to open wide.
    • A gaping; an opening wide.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for YAWN

Etymology of YAWN

The etymology of the word "yawn" can be traced back to Middle English and Old English. In Middle English, "yawnen" was used to describe the act of yawning, while in Old English, the term was "gionian". It is believed that the word "yawn" ultimately derives from the Proto-Germanic root *geunōną, which means "to yawn" or "gape". This root is also related to other Germanic languages, such as German "gähnen" and Dutch "gapen". The exact origin of the Proto-Germanic root is uncertain, but it could possibly be imitative of the sound made during yawning.

Similar spelling words for YAWN

Plural form of YAWN is YAWNS

Conjugate verb Yawn

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have yawned
you would have yawned
he/she/it would have yawned
we would have yawned
they would have yawned
I would have yawn
you would have yawn
he/she/it would have yawn
we would have yawn
they would have yawn

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been yawning
you would have been yawning
he/she/it would have been yawning
we would have been yawning
they would have been yawning

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would yawn
you would yawn
he/she/it would yawn
we would yawn
they would yawn

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be yawning
you would be yawning
he/she/it would be yawning
we would be yawning
they would be yawning

FUTURE

I will yawn
you will yawn
he/she/it will yawn
we will yawn
they will yawn

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be yawning
you will be yawning
he/she/it will be yawning
we will be yawning
they will be yawning

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have yawned
you will have yawned
he/she/it will have yawned
we will have yawned
they will have yawned

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been yawning
you will have been yawning
he/she/it will have been yawning
we will have been yawning
they will have been yawning

IMPERATIVE

you yawn
we let´s yawn

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to yawn

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was yawning
you were yawning
he/she/it was yawning
we were yawning
they were yawning

PAST PARTICIPLE

yawned

PAST PERFECT

I had yawned
you had yawned
he/she/it had yawned
we had yawned
they had yawned

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been yawning
you had been yawning
he/she/it had been yawning
we had been yawning
they had been yawning

PRESENT

I yawn
you yawn
he/she/it yawns
we yawn
they yawn

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am yawning
you are yawning
he/she/it is yawning
we are yawning
they are yawning

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

yawning

PRESENT PERFECT

I have yawned
you have yawned
he/she/it has yawned
we have yawned
they have yawned

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been yawning
you have been yawning
he/she/it has been yawning
we have been yawning
they have been yawning

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it yawn

SIMPLE PAST

I yawned
you yawned
he/she/it yawned
we yawned
they yawned

Infographic

Correct spelling for yawn
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