Y'all means you all: a way to address several people at once. It's a contraction typical of the southern US, and you also see it a lot on social media. The tone is warm and informal. In a message to colleagues or a teacher, write you all or everyone, and don't use the word in an essay or IELTS Speaking.
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y'all + are/were/have…; Y'all ready?; thanks, y'all; = you all / you guys
- Y'all, dinner's ready, come and get it while it's hot!
- Thanks for coming, y'all, it was so good to see everyone.
- Are y'all still up for hiking on Sunday morning?
What changed
First versionAre ya'll coming to Mia's birthday on Friday?
RevisionAre y'all coming to Mia's birthday on Friday?
The apostrophe in y'all replaces the missing letters ou from you: y(ou) all. In ya'll the apostrophe is in the wrong place, and that spelling is considered a mistake, even though it's common.
Similar informal ways to address a group are you guys, without the southern flavour, and British you lot: Are you lot coming tonight? All three sound friendly, and in formal writing they're replaced with you all or everyone.
Your turn
Y'all ___ welcome to stay for dinner, there's plenty of food.
Show the answer
are — Y'all is you all, so it takes the same verb as you: are. Is goes with he, she, it or everyone (Everyone is welcome), but not with y'all.
Write a message to your friends' group chat using y'all. Suggest meeting up and say where and when.
Y'all free on Saturday? Let's grab brunch at Rosie's at eleven.
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