"Y'all" or "Ya'll"??

One thing is certain, the south has its own language! From “fixin’ to” to “over yonder”, between the accent and the southern phrases, there are times a visitor could definitely use some translation help!

When it comes to southern slang, nothing is more common than the contraction for “you all”.

But is it “y’all” or is it “ya’ll”??

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Though there is much dispute over this (just in my household alone!) we have Merriam Webster to settle the feud once and for all! Not only is it in the dictionary, it is reported to be in the top 30% of words!

y’all pronoun | \’y ȯl\

variant of you-all

chiefly Southern usually used in addressing two or more people

It seems that “y’all” has been around for quite some time, too! In 1886, the New York Times ran a story titled “Odd Southernisms: A Few Examples of Quaint Sayings in South Carolina” that included the following: “‘You all,’ or, as it should be abbreviated, ‘y’all,’ is one of the most ridiculous of all the Southernisms I can call to mind.” 

And “y’all” isn’t restricted to the southern USA. Through African American vernacular, “y’all” has made its way through every major city across our great country. And it doesn’t stop there! Thanks to the hip-hop culture, “y’all” has been heard across the globe! Tupac, Drake, and Jay Z are just a few throwing the “y’alls” around the world!

It has even been reported that Siri not only now recognizes, but even says “y’all”!

So now that we have settled that, being that “y’all” is defined as “addressing two or more people”, at what point does one use “all y’all”??