From the contraction of you + all, first recorded in the 1820s, likely spread by Scots‑Irish settlers in the American South.
From the contraction of you + all, first recorded in the 1820s, likely spread by Scots‑Irish settlers in the American South.
What does y'all mean?
y'all is a colloquial second‑person plural pronoun meaning ‘you all’.
When should I use y'all?
Use it in informal contexts when addressing two or more listeners, especially in Southern‑flavored speech.
Is y'all ever correct for a single person?
No, y'all is plural; for a single addressee use you.
How do I form the possessive of y'all?
Add an apostrophe‑s: y'all's (e.g., “Is this y'all's car?”).
What is the reflexive form of y'all?
The reflexive is y'allselves, as in “y'allselves need to study.”
Is y'all appropriate in formal writing?
Generally avoid it in formal prose; reserve it for dialogue, quotations, or informal writing.