To yelp means to make a short, sharp cry, usually from sudden pain or surprise. A dog might yelp when someone accidentally steps on its paw. A person might yelp when touching something unexpectedly hot or getting pinched. The sound bursts out before you can stop it: quick, loud, and involuntary.

The word captures that instant reaction when something startles or hurts you. Unlike a scream, which can be long and sustained, a yelp is brief and sudden. Unlike a shout, which you do on purpose, a yelp just happens. You might yelp when you stub your toe in the dark or when cold water hits your back in the shower.

Animals yelp too, particularly dogs and puppies. A puppy's yelp signals distress or surprise to its mother and littermates. When dogs play together and one yelps, the other usually stops immediately, recognizing that the play got too rough.

The word can also be a noun: “She let out a yelp of surprise when the balloon popped behind her.”