yankee
word
Definition
A Yankee is a person from the United States, especially from the northern states. In some contexts, it can also refer more specifically to someone from New England, and its tone can be neutral, informal, or slightly negative depending on who says it.
Usage & Nuances
Often capitalized as 'Yankee'. Meaning changes by context: in the U.S. South, it may mean a northerner; outside the U.S., it can mean any American. It can sound old-fashioned or political, and learners should be careful because it may feel mocking in some situations. Also appears in fixed names like 'the New York Yankees'.
Example Sentences
He is a Yankee from Boston.
basic
Some people in the South call northerners Yankees.
basic
The Yankees won the game last night.
basic
To my grandfather, anyone north of Virginia was a Yankee.
natural
The term Yankee can sound joking or insulting, depending on the speaker.
natural
When I was traveling abroad, people kept calling me a Yankee as soon as they heard my accent.
natural