hiragana ya-yu-yo

http://www.thejapanesepage.com/beginners/hiragana/chapter_8

や　ya - It looks like something a YAk stepped on
へや　部屋　heya - room
おや　親 oya - parents

ゆ　yu - If you look really close, you may see a Y, O, and U there
ゆき　雪　yuki snow
ふき　fuki winter
ゆめ　夢　yume dream

よ　yo - It looks like a fancy trick with a YO-YO
よい　good
つよい　強い tsuyoi strong

Note: These can form combinations
http://www.thejapanesepage.com/beginners/hiragana/Combinationstwo
Usually easy... BASE + a smaller ya, yu, or yo
kiya 気や　きや　!= kya 脚　= きゃ
shiyuu しゆう 雌雄　!= shuu しゅう　週

careful of sha (not sya), ja (not ya), cha (not chya)