Partly from Middle English yanen, yonen, yenen (“to yawn”), from Old English ġeonian, ġinian (“to yawn, gape”), from Proto-West Germanic *ginōn, from Proto-Germanic *ginōną (“to yawn”); and partly from Middle English gonen (“to gape, yawn”), from Old English gānian (“to yawn, gape”), from Proto-West Germanic *gainōn, from Proto-Germanic *gainōną (“to yawn, gape”); both from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰi-, *ǵʰeyh₁- (“to yawn, gape”).
Cognate with North Frisian jåne (“to yawn”), Saterland Frisian jaanje, joanje (“to yawn”), Middle Dutch genen, ghenen (“to yawn”), German Low German jahnen (“to yawn”), German gähnen (“to yawn, gape”), dialectal Swedish gana (“to gape, gawk”), dialectal Norwegian gina (“to gape”).
Compare also Old Church Slavonic зѣѭ (zějǫ) (Russian зи́нуть (zínutʹ), зия́ть (zijátʹ)), Greek χαίνω (khaínō)), Latin hiō, Tocharian A śew, Tocharian B kāy-, Lithuanian žioti, Sanskrit जेह् (jeh)
Meanings
The action of yawning; opening the mouth widely and taking a long, rather deep breath, often because one is tired or bored.
At length, quite exhausted by the attempt to be amused with her own book, which she had only chosen because it was the second volume of his, she gave a great yawn and said, “How pleasant it is to spend an evening in this way! […]” 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter 11, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC:
But Mrs. MacWhirr, in the drawing-room […], stifled a yawn—perhaps out of self-respect—for she was alone. 1902, Joseph Conrad, chapter 6, in Typhoon:
(colloquial) A particularly boring event.
The slideshow we sat through was such a yawn. I was glad when it finished.
lv žāvas (the action of yawning) · uk по́зіхи (the action of yawning) · zyp hang (the action of yawning) · sv gäsp (the action of yawning) · mi hītako (the action of yawning) · sl zehanje (the action of yawning) · ta கொட்டாவி விடு (the action of yawning) · ang ġinung (the action of yawning) · te ఆవులింత (the action of yawning) · pl ziewanie (the action of yawning) · bn হাই (the action of yawning) · hu ásítás (the action of yawning) · la oscitātiō (the action of yawning) · sh zev (the action of yawning) · el χασμουρητό (the action of yawning) · ko 하품 (the action of yawning) · ga méanfach (the action of yawning) · lki ئاژاشِکی (the action of yawning) · fur sossedade (the action of yawning) · fo geisp (the action of yawning) · ky эстөө (the action of yawning) · udm вушъем (the action of yawning) · lad bostijo (the action of yawning) · sh зијев (the action of yawning) · bcl hagab (the action of yawning) · lt žiovulys (the action of yawning) · sc casciu (the action of yawning) · az əsnəmə (the action of yawning) · mk зев (the action of yawning) · fi haukottelu (the action of yawning) · uk позіха́ння (the action of yawning) · kk есінеу (the action of yawning) · ks زامَن (the action of yawning) · udm вушъён (the action of yawning) · mn эвшээлт (the action of yawning) · de Gähnen (the action of yawning) · sdh دەمەکاوکی (the action of yawning) · cmn 呵欠 (the action of yawning) · eu ahozabalkada (the action of yawning) · fr bâillement (the action of yawning) · fur sbadai (the action of yawning) · bo གླལ་སྒྱིང (the action of yawning) · izh haikotus (the action of yawning) · cmn 哈欠 (the action of yawning) · ang gānung (the action of yawning) · as হামি (the action of yawning) · sw mwayo (the action of yawning) · eu aharrausi (the action of yawning) · ru зева́ние (the action of yawning) · ast bocéu (the action of yawning) · es bostezo (the action of yawning) · an badallo (the action of yawning) · fur sbadaj (the action of yawning) · ja 欠伸 (the action of yawning) · cs zívnutí (the action of yawning) · he פִּהוּק (the action of yawning) · is geispi (the action of yawning) · sv gäspning (the action of yawning) · hy հորանջ (the action of yawning) · uz esnoq (the action of yawning) · arz تثاؤب (the action of yawning) · eo oscedo (the action of yawning) · sh зев (the action of yawning) · bcl hakay (the action of yawning) · tl hikab (the action of yawning) · pt bocejo (the action of yawning) · io ocito (the action of yawning) · tr esneme (the action of yawning) · th หาว (the action of yawning) · fur sossedament (the action of yawning) · id kuap (the action of yawning) · vi ngáp (the action of yawning) · wyi yako (the action of yawning) · ru зево́к (the action of yawning) · gl bocexo (the action of yawning) · ru зево́та (the action of yawning) · fa فاژه (the action of yawning) · io beo (the action of yawning) · co bocchipenzulu (the action of yawning) · sc cascu (the action of yawning) · ca badall (the action of yawning) · wa båye (the action of yawning) · ar تَثَاؤُب (the action of yawning) · fi haukotus (the action of yawning) · sdh ئاژاژِگی (the action of yawning) · it sbadiglio (the action of yawning) · da gab (the action of yawning) · bg прозявка (the action of yawning) · ckb باوێشک (the action of yawning) · grc χάσμη (the action of yawning) · izh haikutos (the action of yawning) · kmr bawişk (the action of yawning) · mk проѕевка (the action of yawning) · ka მთქნარება (the action of yawning) · hi जम्हाई (the action of yawning) · nl geeuw (the action of yawning) · ml കോട്ടുവായ് (the action of yawning) · lki ئاژاژِکی (the action of yawning) · et haigutus (the action of yawning) · nl gaap (the action of yawning) · cs zívání (the action of yawning) · fa خمیازه (the action of yawning) · fa دهاندره (the action of yawning) · bo ཨ་སྟོང (the action of yawning) · ms kuap (the action of yawning) · sh zijev (the action of yawning) · mtq ngáp (the action of yawning)
Partly from Middle English yanen, yonen, yenen (“to yawn”), from Old English ġeonian, ġinian (“to yawn, gape”), from Proto-West Germanic *ginōn, from Proto-Germanic *ginōną (“to yawn”); and partly from Middle English gonen (“to gape, yawn”), from Old English gānian (“to yawn, gape”), from Proto-West Germanic *gainōn, from Proto-Germanic *gainōną (“to yawn, gape”); both from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰi-, *ǵʰeyh₁- (“to yawn, gape”).
Cognate with North Frisian jåne (“to yawn”), Saterland Frisian jaanje, joanje (“to yawn”), Middle Dutch genen, ghenen (“to yawn”), German Low German jahnen (“to yawn”), German gähnen (“to yawn, gape”), dialectal Swedish gana (“to gape, gawk”), dialectal Norwegian gina (“to gape”).
Compare also Old Church Slavonic зѣѭ (zějǫ) (Russian зи́нуть (zínutʹ), зия́ть (zijátʹ)), Greek χαίνω (khaínō)), Latin hiō, Tocharian A śew, Tocharian B kāy-, Lithuanian žioti, Sanskrit जेह् (jeh)
Meanings
(intransitive) To open the mouth widely and take a long, rather deep breath, often because one is tired or bored, and sometimes accompanied by pandiculation.
[…] I found my self towards Evening, first empty and sickish at my Stomach, and nearer Night mightily enclin’d to yawning and sleepy […] 1719, [Daniel Defoe], The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; […], London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], →OCLC:
c. 1773, John Trumbull, The Progress of Dulness, Exeter, New Hampshire: Henry Ranlet, 1794, Part 1, p. 19,
And while above he spends his breath,
The yawning audience nod beneath.
I could see my students yawning, so I knew the lesson was boring them.
To say while yawning.
“Oh,” Sutherland yawned, “I’m too old for this.” 1978, Andrew Holleran, chapter 8, in The Dancer from the Dance, New York: Bantam, published 1979, page 217:
“I haven’t the least idea what I want to do,” he yawned. 1922, Stephen McKenna, chapter 10, in The Secret Victory, New York: George H. Doran, page 214:
To present a wide opening; gape.
[…] Hell at last
Yawning receavd them whole, and on them clos’d, 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 874-875:
’Tis now the very witching time of night,
When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world. c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
If your child has tumbled into one of those open sewers which yawn for the unwary in the streets […] 1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 8, page 104:
The canyon yawns as it has done for millions of years, and we stand looking, dumbstruck.
Death yawned before us, and I hit the brakes.
(obsolete) To open the mouth, or to gape, through surprise or bewilderment.
[…] O heavy hour!
Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse
Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe
Should yawn at alteration. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Othello, the Moore of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
[…] Hell being vnder euerie one of their Stages, the Players (if they had owed him a spight) might with a false Trappe doore haue slipt him downe, and there kept him, as a laughing stocke to al their yawning Spectators. 1606, Thomas Dekker, Nevves from hell brought by the Diuells carrier, London: W. Ferebrand:
(obsolete) To be eager; to desire to swallow anything; to express desire by yawning.
to yawn for fat livings
Fly not, as thou wert wont, to his embrace,
Lest, after one long yawning gaze, he swear
Thou art the best good fellow in the world,
But he had quite forgotten thee, by Jove! 1824, Walter Savage Landor, “Milton and Andrew Marvel”, in Imaginary Conversations of Literary Men and Statesmen, volume I, London: […] Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 6:
ur اَن٘گْڑائی لینا (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · gl desqueixar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sh зе́вати (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ro a căsca (to present a wide opening) · te ఆవులించు (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · lb gaapsen (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · akl huy-ab (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · tl maghikab (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · lad bostejar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ca badallar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ru зева́ть (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fur sbadaiâ (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · nrf s'êbailli (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · hi जँभाई लेना (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · uk позіха́ти (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · grc χασμάομαι (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · tt иснәү (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ru зия́ть (to present a wide opening) · bo ཨ་སྟོང་རྒྱག (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ro căsca (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mr जांभई (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mi kōwaha (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · cy cegrythu (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bo གླལ (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · lv žāvāties (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · km ស្ងាប (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · cy ymagor (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sc cascai (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · su angob (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · alt эстеер (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · hi अंगड़ाई लेना (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sk zívať (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fa خمیازه کشیدن (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · gd mèaran (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ta ஆவி (to present a wide opening) · mk зевне (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · pl ziewnąć (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · be пазяха́ць (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · txb kāy- (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · roa-tar aláre (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · la oscitō (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · vec badagiar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · be пазяхну́ць (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · az əsnəmək (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · cy dylyfu gên (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · scn badagghiari (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · wyi yerram-yerram mooni (to present a wide opening) · da gabe (to present a wide opening) · co bocchipenzulà (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · zyp hang (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mk зинува (to present a wide opening) · he פִּהֵק (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ka მთქნარება (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · hy հորանջել (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · is geispa (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · cmn 打哈欠 (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · es bostezar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · arz اتاوب (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ang gānian (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · nan-hbl 擘哈 (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mi kohera (to present a wide opening) · an badallar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · cmn 打阿老 (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · be зява́ць (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · la dehīscō (to present a wide opening) · ca obrir-se (to present a wide opening) · ro deschide (to present a wide opening) · et haigutama (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · njo-jgl wa mesa (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · xal эвшәх (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · nl gapen (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · lt žiovauti (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · uk позіхну́ти (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · th หาว (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · vi ngáp (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · pl ziewać (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mi tūwaharoa (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fr béer (to present a wide opening) · ga déan méanfach (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bg прозя́вам се (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ja 欠伸する (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ms kuap (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sk zívnuť (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · rup cascu (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bg зея́ (to present a wide opening) · bg прози́на се (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · id menguap (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sw -enda miayo (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · wa båyî (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sm māvava (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · msn m̄am̄ëv (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · uk зівну́ти (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fur sošedâ (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · hu tátong (to present a wide opening) · yue 打喊露 (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sc cascŕi (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · tk pallamak (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · nn geispa (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ug ئەسنىمەك (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ovd gåpå (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fi ammottaa (to present a wide opening) · vo cavön (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fa فاژه کشیدن (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · grc χάσκω (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fur sossedâ (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mn эвшээх (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · uz esnamoq (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · uk зіва́ти (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · cs zívat (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · os зӕмбын (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · cs zívnout (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ceb langhab (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · be зяўну́ць (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · io ocitar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · eo oscedi (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · eu aharrausi egin (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fa فاژیدن (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · nl geeuwen (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · chy -taotse (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · acw اتثاوب (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bg прозе́я се (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · pt bocejar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fa دهاندره کردن (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bo གཡལ (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · rup hascu (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · kmr bawîşîn (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mi hāmamamama (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ta கொட்டாவி (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · yi גענעצן (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fur sbadajâ (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bo གླལ་སྒྱིང་བྱེད (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sv gäspa (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · tet maas (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sl zehati (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · kok जांबय (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · nb gjespe (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ckb باوێشک لێدان (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ar تَثَاءَبَ (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · as হামিয়া (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · kaw hwab (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · es abrirse (to present a wide opening) · izh haikotella (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · kk есінеу (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · io bear (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bo གླལ་སྒྱིང་བྱེད (to present a wide opening) · sh zévati (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · vec sbadagiar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · wyi yarramoen (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · is gapa (to present a wide opening) · tg хамёза кашидан (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ga lig méanfach (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sh zijévati (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · my သမ်း (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ota اسنمك (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mnw ဒအာပ် (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mi kowhera (to present a wide opening) · mk зева (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · qu hanyay (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ko 하품하다 (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sh зије́вати (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ky эстөө (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ba иҫнәү (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · hak 擘嘴 (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fo geispa (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · cmn 打呵欠 (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · gl bocexar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sw -piga miayo (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · kab fa (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ps ارږمی کښل (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · lut ʔagʷaləb (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · la hiō (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mi hāmama popoia (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fi haukotella (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · tr esnemek (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ms uap (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · hi जंभना (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · el χασμουριέμαι (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bo ཁ་གླལ (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · fr bâiller (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mk се проѕева (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ru зевну́ть (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bcl hagab (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · to mamao (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · acm تْثَاوَب (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sc cascare (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · da gabe (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · rm susdar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mi hītakotako (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · de gähnen (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · io ocitar (to present a wide opening) · ast bociar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · oc badalhar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bo གླལ (to present a wide opening) · mi hītako (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · eo faŭki (to present a wide opening) · ur جماہی لینا (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · mtq ngáp (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · io bear (to present a wide opening) · frp bâlyer (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · lo ຫາວ (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · gl boquexar (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ang ġinian (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bo གཡལ་སྟོང་རྒྱག (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · sq hap gojën (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bcl hakay (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · it sbadigliare (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · hu ásít (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · acm تْثَاءَب (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · nan-hbl 哈唏 (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bn হাই তোলা (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · ta பிள (to present a wide opening) · nan-hbl 喝頷 /喝颔 (open the mouth and take a deep breath) · bo ཁ་གཡལ (open the mouth and take a deep breath)