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Synonyms

yen

1 American  
[yen] / yɛn /

noun

plural

yen

  1. an aluminum coin and monetary unit of Japan, equal to 100 sen or 1000 rin. ¥; Y

  2. a former silver coin of Japan.

yen 2 American  
[yen] / yɛn /

noun

  1. a desire or craving.

    I had a yen for apple pie.
    Synonyms:
    appetite, hunger, hankering, longing

verb (used without object)

yenned, yenning

  1. to have a craving; yearn.

yen 1 British  
/ jɛn /

noun

  1. a passionate, ardent, or intense longing or desire

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to yearn

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
yen 2 British  
/ jɛn /

noun

  1. the standard monetary unit of Japan, (notionally) divided into 100 sen

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
yen Idioms  

  1. see have a yen for.

Usage

What does yen mean? Yen is a monetary unit of Japan similar to a dollar. It comes in the form of a coin that’s also called a yen.The symbol for yen is ¥. Like a dollar, it can be divided into 100 parts called sen (though sen are not used in practice).The plural of yen is yen.Unrelatedly, yen is a slang term meaning a strong craving, desire, or yearning. It’s especially used in the phrase have a yen for. It can also be used as a verb meaning to crave or strongly desire.Example: Ever since I came back from Italy, I’ve had a yen for fresh pasta.

Etymology

Origin of yen1

1870–75; < Japanese ( y ) en < Chinese yuán yuan

Origin of yen2

1905–10, probably < dialectal Chinese (OAGuangdong) yáhn, akin to Chinese yǐn craving, addiction

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

According to the tankan, major manufacturers forecast a roughly 2% drop in ordinary profits this fiscal year, based on the assumption that the dollar will average 148.88 yen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The dollar has gained 1.56% against the Japanese yen and 0.96% versus the Swiss Franc during this quarter, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The dollar’s safe-haven role amid the Iran conflict triggered a rally, with gains of 1.56% against the yen and 0.96% versus the Swiss franc.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

TOKYO—Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda joined a growing chorus of officials pledging to monitor the yen closely, as the Middle East conflict continues to pressure the currency and stoke inflation concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Clovis people were thought to have a special yen for mammoth: great ambulatory meat lockers.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.