Words / A1

Y-AM/jæm/

A yam is a starchy root vegetable, often large, with brown skin and white, yellow, or orange inside. Countable: a yam, yams; some yam when it is cooked and cut. A potato is smaller and common in Britain; a sweet potato is similar but is a different plant (often orange and sweeter). Mix-up: yam vs jam (fruit spread) — y vs j; and yam vs lamb (a young sheep) — extra l.

Meaning

A starchy root vegetable, often brown outside and white or orange inside.

Examples

• “She boiled the yam for dinner.”
• “Peel the yam before you boil it.”
• “This yam is not sweet like a sweet potato.”

Good to know

a yam / some yam. Contrast: potato (smaller, common), sweet potato (sweeter, different plant). Mix-up: jam, lamb.

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