What it means
Means you all, the handy second-person plural English forgot to give us. Used to address a group, or sometimes one person when you're being extra friendly or making a point. It’s casual, warm, and often signals Southern hospitality, even when you’re just herding mates into a car. Spelled y’all, yall, or ya’ll, but y’all is the standard. If someone says it with a smile, you’re probably about to get fed.
Usage examples
"Y'all grab a plate and scoot over, Uncle Ray just fired up the pit, and we ain't starting the brisket without you."
"Y'all coming to the cookout Saturday? Bring a side and your appetite, we're doing ribs and the good lemonade."
"I told y'all to bring jackets, now look, everybody's shivering and blaming me."
Where it comes from
A neat contraction of you all, the plural you that standard English never bothered to keep. It put down deep roots in the American South, where it carries a warmth that plain you just can't, and it has since spread well beyond the region.
Other ways to say it
Editors of this term
Your vote counts
Is this real street talk or have we lost the plot? Cast your vote.