y'all

UK: jɔːl | US: jɔːl

Definition

  1. pron. a contraction of "you all," used as a second-person plural pronoun in Southern and African American Vernacular English.

Structure
you <second-person pronoun>all <everyone>
Etymology

"Y'all" is a contraction of "you all," originating in the Southern United States in the early 19th century. It emerged as a solution to the lack of a distinct plural "you" in English (unlike languages such as Spanish with "ustedes" or French with "vous"). The word combines "you" (from Old English "ēow") and "all" (from Old English "eall"), reflecting a pragmatic linguistic innovation to clarify plurality in informal speech. Over time, it became a hallmark of Southern and African American Vernacular English, retaining its function as a plural or collective address.

Examples

  1. "Y'all need to finish your homework before dinner."

  2. "Are y'all coming to the party tonight?"

  3. "I made cookies for y'all."

  4. "Y'all better hurry, or we'll be late."

  5. "Y'all are the best neighbors anyone could ask for."