Reddit
reddit.com › r/asklinguistics › is “y’all” slang or a real word?
r/asklinguistics on Reddit: Is “y’all” slang or a real word?
April 12, 2022 -
I maintain it’s a real word. A proper contraction of you and all in the southern dialect of American English.
Slang is a word like groovy used to describe something that has nothing to do with actual grooves.
Top answer 1 of 5
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Regardless of whether it's considered slang, slang words are "real words".
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"Y'all" is a real word. And it's non-standard. "Groovy" is a real word. And it's slang. "Slang" does not mean "not a real word". Words have a commonly recognized meaning. Keyword "commonly". Dictionaries are not authorities, they're just museums. Entry into a dictionary does not make something a "real" word. On the contrary, it has to be a "real" word before lexicographers will add it to the Archive of Words They've Seen Around.
Southern–American English nonstandard second-person plural pronoun
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Y'all
Y'all - Wikipedia
2 days ago - Y'all is the main second-person plural pronoun in Southern American English, with which it is most frequently associated, though it also appears in some other English varieties, including African-American English, South African Indian English and Sri Lankan English.
Exactly how valid is "Y'all"?
It's a perfectly normal contraction of 'you all' More on reddit.com
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February 19, 2014grammaticality - When did “y’all” become improper? - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
An argument for the superiority of "y'all" over "you guys," which fills the same grammatical niche in other parts of the US that "y'all" does in the South. Economical: one word, one syllable. ... Gracefully takes a possessive. "Is that you guys's new minivan?" vs. More on english.stackexchange.com
Is “y’all” slang or a real word?
Regardless of whether it's considered slang, slang words are "real words". More on reddit.com
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April 12, 2022How do y’all feel about the usage of the word “y’all”?
Having lived in Texas for 70 years, I've used it all my life...verbally. I never used it in writing (nor did anyone else I knew) unless it was to convey an accent or vernacular in a quote. Only recently have I started actually "writing" the word and it is mostly only on sites like Reddit. So...what's this "innit" you Brits use? More on reddit.com
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November 20, 2022What does all y’all mean?
All y’all essentially means the same thing as y’all. It is used in place of the second-person pronoun “you” to address a group of people. The addition of “all” typically serves to emphasize the size of the group. · The phrase all y’all (or “all of y’all”) is an example of a pleonasm (a redundant phrase), and it is often used for an intentionally humorous or exaggerated effect. · All y’all examples · All y’all better show up tomorrow. We’ve got a lot of work to do! · When I finally get done with this project, I’m buying all y’all drinks to celebrate. · QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you v
quillbot.com
quillbot.com › home › y’all | meaning, spelling & examples
Y’all | Meaning, Spelling & Examples
Is it yall or y’all?
Y’all is the correct way to write the contraction for “you all.” “Yall” is a misspelling. · Use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to make sure you’re spelling y’all correctly.
quillbot.com
quillbot.com › home › y’all | meaning, spelling & examples
Y’all | Meaning, Spelling & Examples
Should I say you all or y’all?
Y’all is a contraction of you all, but the two phrases are not completely interchangeable. The choice of which to use depends on the context. · Y’all is not typically used in formal contexts, while you all can be (e.g., “Would please bow your heads for a moment of silence?”). · Y’all can be used to address two people (e.g., “Mom and Dad, will y’all loan me twenty dollars?”), while you all is reserved for groups of three or more. · Y’all can be used in greetings as a substitute for “everyone” or “guys” (e.g., “Hi y’all!”), while you all cannot. · Even though y’all is quite common in the souther
quillbot.com
quillbot.com › home › y’all | meaning, spelling & examples
Y’all | Meaning, Spelling & Examples
Videos
03:00
Y'ALL VS. YA'LL: Which One Is "Correct?" #education #linguistics ...
00:45
''Y’all'' Explained: Southern English 101 - YouTube
What do all y’all think about “y’all”? @Landon If you enjoyed this video, you’ll love the Linguistic Discovery newsletter! Deep dives into how language works, language profiles, explainers of terms/concepts in linguistics, reviews, and more! LinguisticDiscovery.com/newsletter (Also available on Substack or Patreon.) #yall #yalldve #South #Southern #English #dialects #grammar #pronouns #linguistics #language#French#LingTok#LearnOnTikTok | TikTok
Reply to @jimmyolivas2027 Y’all! #linguistics #todayilearned #language #yall #allyall #southern #accent #accentchallenge #texas #alabama #mississippi #pronouns | TikTok
#onthisday Y’all is a word many Americans use in the southern part of the United States. It means, “You all.” We use this word A LOT! When you talk to a group of people, this is a very useful word to use. Try it in the comments! #english #studyenglish #learnenglish #learnenglishonline #studyenglishonline #englishclass #practicalenglish #englishconversations #conversationalenglish #englishtips #improveenglish #improveyourenglish #englishteacher #englishlearning #영어 #영어선생님 #영어수업 #영어연습 #영어공부 | TikTok
Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › y'all
Y'ALL Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of Y'ALL is you —usually used in addressing two or more persons.
NPR
npr.org › 2025 › 07 › 16 › nx-s1-5467295 › yall-word-history-use-etymology
How 'y'all' took over modern English : NPR
July 16, 2025 - The word has thrived because it's utilitarian, filling a gap in standard English. We use y'all — and relatives like yinz (for those in Pittsburgh) and youse — because the language has long lacked a satisfying plural pronoun for "you." "Basically, all of the non-mainstream varieties are better than the mainstream variety, because 'you' being for plural is confusing," Reed says.
Quora
quora.com › Is-y-all-slang-or-a-real-word
Is “y’all” slang or a real word? - Quora
Answer (1 of 11): The word y’all is a real word, a contraction of “you all.” But it is not part of Standard American English. It is used only in some dialects, not all. It would not be taught to children in school as part of formal writing. But of course everyone understands, the word, ...
Southern Living
southernliving.com › culture › yall-or-ya-ll
What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll?
August 13, 2025 - Merriam-Webster describes this ... incorrect—way to spell this fond colloquialism. The only proper way to spell the contraction of "you" and "all" is "y'all." "Ya'll" is incorrect and a misspelling of the word, so don't ...
Facebook
facebook.com › groups › AppalachianAmericans › posts › 10161219254678648
Do you use y'all or ya'll in your dialect?
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Clarion Ledger
clarionledger.com › story › news › 2025 › 02 › 16 › is-yall-not-just-a-southern-thing-anymore › 77912484007
Is 'y'all' not just a Southern thing anymore?
February 16, 2025 - A 2009 Urban Dictionary entry: “Y’all is not a real word. It is formed by dropping the ou from ‘you all.’ Even worse, ‘y’all’ is often used with a double negative, as described in the example below.
QuillBot
quillbot.com › home › y’all | meaning, spelling & examples
Y’all | Meaning, Spelling & Examples
October 23, 2024 - Y’all is a contraction of the phrase “you all” and is used frequently as a second-person plural pronoun (i.e., in place of “you”) in Southern American English and some other English variants.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/grammar › exactly how valid is "y'all"?
r/grammar on Reddit: Exactly how valid is "Y'all"?
February 19, 2014 -
Is this considered a valid contraction for "all of you" even though it doesn't follow the normal contraction rules?
Top answer 1 of 3
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It was never considered "proper" English; however, as cited above, it fills the need of the otherwise-absent second-person plural. It's very common vernacular in the South and some of the West of the United States. I'm not aware of it commonly being used outside the United States.
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An argument for the superiority of "y'all" over "you guys," which fills the same grammatical niche in other parts of the US that "y'all" does in the South.
Economical: one word, one syllable.
Nonsexist.
Gracefully takes a possessive. "Is that you guys's new minivan?" vs. "Is that y'all's new Tesla roadster?"
WordRake
wordrake.com › writing-tips › the-story-of-yall
The Story of Y'all
Right away you can tell the word y’all has only one apostrophe, when clearly it’s missing two letters. Pappy says the correct way to write y’all is y’’all, “But folks been a’writin’ it that way jus’ ‘bout ever since, so why break wit’ 300-year-old treedition!”
Facebook
facebook.com › groups › waywordradio › posts › 10161158884933584
What is the difference between 'y'all' and 'all y'all'?
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Writer's Digest
writersdigest.com › write-better-fiction › yall-vs-ya-ll-grammar-rules
Y'all vs. Ya'll (Grammar Rules) - Writer's Digest
August 24, 2021 - Of course, it is, y'all. And that means ya'll is incorrect and, for me, the equivalent of hearing nails screeching on a blackboard. While some people might give me grief for using y'all from time to time, it's at least the correct contraction.
Oxford English Dictionary
oed.com › dictionary › yall_pron
y'all, pron. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the pronoun y'all. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence. This word is used in Caribbean English and midland U.S.
Quora
quora.com › Is-yall-an-official-word
Is y'all an official word? - Quora
Answer (1 of 13): In the matter of authority, it is true that we don’t have the equivakent of L’Academie Francaise which really does rule on the admissibility of words, and dialects. For example they don’t accept Breton French, or Provencal, or Basque, or other southern French dialects.
Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › y-all
Y'ALL | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
2 weeks ago - Y'ALL meaning: 1. used to address a group of people that you are speaking to: 2. used to address a group of…. Learn more.
QuillBot
quillbot.com › home › should i say you all or y’all?
Should I say you all or y’all?
February 19, 2025 - The choice of “you all” or “y’all” depends on the context. “Y’all” is generally more casual and is only used in certain variants of English.
Blogger
jadevarden.blogspot.com › 2012 › 09 › writing-101-proper-use-of-word-yall.html
Writing 101: Proper Use of the Word Y'All ~ Jade Varden Official Blog
September 24, 2012 - The word means you all, and actual southerners only use it when they're addressing more than one. Replace y'all with a phrase that means the same thing, and you'll see what I mean: Robby, all of you come in here and get your lunch. Robby, who's out there alone, is going to think the speaker ...
History News Network
historynewsnetwork.org › article › yall-its-older-than-we-knew
Y’all: It’s Older Than We Knew
July 5, 2015 - With the help of digitized databases, we can now show that y’all has a considerably earlier origin in the literary record than we previously realized. What does this mean for our understanding of the history of the word? We will leave that to the linguists, but it is perhaps worth noting a few quick points.