#16: “Y’all’ vs. ‘All Y’all”

An absolute Southern staple, “y’all” has charmed its way into conversations across the country, but it still holds a special place in the South. This friendly contraction of “you all” is the go-to way to address a group warmly and quickly.

But for even bigger crowds, there’s “all y’all”—which, if fully expanded, would be “all of you all.” The difference? Subtle, but Southerners know exactly when to use each. Whether you’re wrangling a few friends or calling out to an entire room, y’all keep things personal, welcoming, and unmistakably Southern.