you-all

UK: juːˈɔːl | US: juˈɔl

Definition

  1. pron. a plural or emphatic form of "you," used to address a group or emphasize inclusiveness (chiefly Southern US and informal contexts).

Structure
you <second person pronoun>all <everyone/collective>
Etymology

"You-all" is a contraction of "you all," originating in 19th-century Southern American English. It evolved to distinctly address groups (avoiding ambiguity with singular "you") while retaining colloquial warmth. The morpheme "you" traces to Old English "ēow" (dative/accusative of "þē"), and "all" derives from Old English "eall" (entirety). The fusion reflects regional speech patterns, blending grammatical utility with cultural identity.

Examples

  1. "Are you-all coming to the picnic tomorrow?"

  2. "I made cookies for you-all to share."

  3. "You-all better hurry before the rain starts."

  4. "Do you-all need help with those boxes?"

  5. "You-all are always welcome at our house."