Pronunciation: YAM ur
(rhymes with "hammer")

Part of speech:
"Yammer" is usually an intransitive verb.
(Like “sleep,” “skydive,” and “succeed,” all intransitive verbs show complete action on their own and do not do action to an object. You sleep, you skydive, you succeed, and that’s it. You don’t “sleep a bed,” “skydive a plane,” or “succeed a plan”.
Likewise, someone yammers.)

Meaning:
When you yammer, you talk loudly or talk in a whining, complaining way. Yammering is always annoying.

Other forms:
yammered, yammering

How to use it:
Talk about someone yammering, or someone yammering on or yammering on about something (as in "She yammered on, ignoring our bored looks" and "She yammered on about what she'd dreamed last night") or someone yammering about something "(She yammered about what she'd dreamed last night.") You can yammer away, yammer endlessly, and so on. Lastly, "yammering" can be a noun ("His yammering is so irritating") and an adjective ("yammering voices," "yammering cell phone conversations in public," etc.)



I'd like to think I'd be really chill if I met a celebrity I love in person, but I'd probably just yammer in a profoundly dorky way.

The apartment complex was beautiful, but the residents out on their balconies, smoking and yammering at each other, made us pass on it.



Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You'll know you understand what "yammer" means when you can explain it without saying "blah blah blah" or "complain."



Think of the last time you had to listen politely while someone talked about something you don't care about, and fill in the blanks: “I (did something) as (someone) yammered on about _____.”

Example: “I waited for a chance to say 'No, thank you' as the telemarketer yammered on about a credit card offer.”



Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game and quote below. Then try the review questions. Don't go straight to the review now; let your working memory empty out first.

Playing With Words:

This month's game is "guess the common word based on the given literal root meanings." Try it out each day and see the right answer the next day. It can be fun and illuminating to see the literal meanings of words when they came into the language! More than one right answer might be possible in some cases, just so you know. Also, it's okay if you can't come up with most or even any of the answers on your own; just check out the solutions and you'll learn the roots as you go along this month.

From yesterday:

“know” + “make/do” = ?

Answer:

"NOTIFY"

Try this one today:

“in” + “throw” + “noun of action” = ?

A Point Well Made:

Bryant H. McGill: “One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”



1. The opposite of YAMMERING is

A. SMOOTHING
B. APPROXIMATING
C. SILENCE

2. Because he spent most of dinner on their first date yammering, she _____.

A. texted him immediately for a second date.
B. found a polite way to end the evening early.
C. was confused about whether he actually liked her.

Answers are below.


To be a sponsor and send your own message to readers of this list, please contact Liesl at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each day for free by Mrs. Liesl Johnson, M.Ed., a word lover, learning enthusiast, and private tutor of reading and writing in the verdant little town of Hilo, Hawaii. For writing tips, online learning, essay guidance, and more, please visit www.HiloTutor.com.

Disclaimer: Word meanings presented here are expressed in plain language and are limited to common, useful applications only. Readers interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words are encouraged to check a dictionary. Likewise, word meanings, usage, and pronunciations are limited to American English; these elements may vary across world Englishes.

Answers to review questions:
1. C
2. B