How to say "yarn" in Japanese

• 糸いとJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, noun (suffix)Thread, string, or yarn as a physical material: spun fiber used in sewing, knitting, or weaving. Since it is the common word, this is the usual choice for the textile sense of 'yarn'.
  おばあちゃんは身みをかがめて糸いとの付ついた針はりを拾ひろった。↗

  My grandma stooped down and picked up a needle and thread.
• ヤーン
  nounThe loanword for yarn as a material — spun fiber for knitting or weaving. It is less common than 糸, which already covers this sense, so it is seldom the word you actually need.
• 与太話よたばなし
  nounReally means idle gossip or foolish talk — pointless chatting about trivial things. It matches the figurative 'yarn', a rambling tale, only loosely, so it is seldom the word you want for that sense.

Use 糸 for yarn as a material, 「ヤーン」 as a less common loanword for that same material sense, and 与太話 only loosely for the figurative 'rambling tale' sense, since it really means idle gossip.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 糸いとthread
• ヤーンyarn
• 与太話よたばなしidle gossip