Introduction
Words that sound similar in the English language but have different meanings are called homophones. Though yoke and yolk are not typical homophones, they might sound similar in casual conversations to confuse non-native speakers or even experienced writers. But we will tell you the straightforward way to decide if yoke or yolk is correct, considering the context.
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What is the Difference Between Yolk And Yoke?
About Yoke
A yoke is equipment that is required for traditional farming methods. The word ‘yoke’ can be a noun or a verb. People use a yoke to pull something using the power of multiple livestock. It can also mean keeping something or someone together.
Example-
- The abolition of slavery freed people from the yoke of the past. (used as a noun in the metaphorical sense)
As a verb, a yoke can mean harnessing livestock together.
Example-
- If you yoke two cows together, they can pull the plough.
About Yolk
The yolk is the egg’s yellow part. Hence, it is a noun.
Example-
- I like my yolk semi-solid, and my sister likes her yolk hard, for breakfast.
- All the cholesterol in the egg is concentrated in the yolk.
Hence, if you hear this word in a recipe, it most definitely is a yolk, an egg yolk. But, the word can only be used as a noun. You cannot yolk something like you can yoke two animals.
Difference Between Yoke and Yolk
| Area of Differentiation | Yoke | Yolk |
| Part of speech | ‘Yoke’ can be a noun and a verb. | The yolk can only be a noun. |
| Meaning | The noun form of yoke means a device used to harness animals’ power to the field. The verb form means the act of bringing animals together to harness their power. |
Yoke means the yellow part of an egg inside it. |
| Metaphorical Meaning | Yoke can be used metaphorically to mean joining together a few things or a few people. | ‘Yolk’ does not have a metaphorical meaning. |
| Example | Noun form- The farmer tied the cows with a yoke to plough the field.
Verb form- He had to yoke the buffaloes to put them to work. |
Noun form- She loves to eat cakes with multiple egg yolks. |
Similarities Between Yoke and Yolk
- Yoke and yolk are similar sounding when hearing in conversations.
- We can consider ‘yoke’ and ‘yolk’ to be homophones or near-homophones since they sound alike but have different meanings.
- People sometimes misspell the words or use them interchangeably.
- The word ‘yoke’ and ‘yolk’ both are nouns where yoke means a wooden beam that pairs oxen or other animals on their necks so that they can be pulled together. The yolk is the part of an egg which feeds the developing embryo of the chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions on Difference Between Yolk And Yoke
Question
How can we use yoke metaphorically?
Answer:
Yoke metaphorically means servitude or something that can bind or connect people, animals, things, ideas, etc.
Example:
Many territories in Africa emerged as new nations, freed from the yoke of colonialism.
Question
How can we identify where to use ‘yolk’ and ‘yoke’?
Answer:
If the word in the sentence is a verb, it must be ‘yoke’, since ‘yolk’ cannot be a verb. If the word in the context is a noun, then it can be either of the two. If it is anything related to an egg, it is bound to be a ‘yoke,’ and if the context is about farming, the word can be ‘yoke’.