Words / A1

Y-oh-y-oh/ˈjəʊjəʊ/

A yo-yo is a round toy on a string; you loop the string on your finger and the toy goes down and up. Countable: a yo-yo, yo-yos. Write a hyphen: yo-yo. A spinning top spins on the floor, not on a string from your finger; a ball you throw. Mix-up: yo (an informal hello) repeated; and yo-yo vs you you — different spelling.

Meaning

A round toy on a string that goes up and down from your finger.

Examples

• “He can keep the yo-yo spinning.”
• “His yo-yo string is in a knot.”
• “She learned a new yo-yo trick.”

Good to know

a yo-yo (hyphen, string, up and down). Contrast: spinning top (floor), ball (throw). Mix-up: yo = hello.

New