Yo
/joʊ/noun
A casual greeting, attention-getter, or exclamation.
Did you know?The interjection yo is a genuine English word with a long spoken history, but its exact origin is uncertain and likely developed as a natural exclamation rather than from a single ancient root.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
yo
“An attention-getting cry or exclamation”
16th Century
English
yo
“A shouted call used to attract notice or summon someone”
20th Century
English
yo
“A slang greeting or emphatic address, especially in urban speech”
Modern English
English
yo
“A casual greeting, call for attention, or emphatic interjection”