you-all

[ yoo-awl, yoo-awl, yawl ]

pronounChiefly South Midland and Southern U.S.
  1. you (used in direct address to two or more people): You-all come back now, hear?Tell your mother it's time you-all came to visit us.

Origin of you-all

1
An Americanism dating back to 1815–25; you + all

usage note For you-all

See you, y'all.

Words Nearby you-all

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use you-all in a sentence

  • "I wish t' hell, stranger, you-all hadn't edged off south," chattered Alfred.

    Blazed Trail Stories | Stewart Edward White
  • But wildcats is purty heavy, an' you-all can hit 'em with a shotgun.

    The Ghost Breaker | Charles Goddard
  • "I just stepped over to inquire what you-all'd like for breakfast this mornin'," he said with a grin.

    Hidden Gold | Wilder Anthony
  • Has you-all done cided to do wid out yo suppers dis yer night?

    Three Little Women | Gabrielle E. Jackson
  • Nothin', only you're a white-livered stinker, an' I'm jest a-spoilin' foh a fight with you-all.

    Tramping on Life | Harry Kemp

British Dictionary definitions for you-all

you-all

pronoun
  1. a US, esp Southern, word for you, used esp when addressing more than one person

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012