# yay

/ˈjeɪ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/yay
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. slang for cocaine

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Slang

a slang name for the drug cocaine.

For teachers: a slang term for cocaine, specifically in powder or crack form.

- The song lyrics mentioned 'yay' as a reference to street life.
- The detective noted that the suspects used 'yay' as a code word during the recorded phone conversations.

Usage: Uncountable noun used primarily in urban or hip-hop contexts.

Teaching tip: Learners should be aware of this meaning to understand song lyrics or films, but should avoid using it themselves.

## Examples

- Yay, we finally finished the project!
- I just found out we have tomorrow off, so yay for a long weekend!
- While some might find the use of 'yay' overly simplistic in professional emails, it serves as an effective, high-energy marker of team success in casual digital communication.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.