Y’all is as common in the American South as boiled peanuts, college football and NASCAR. If it were possible to hold a giant microphone over the entire region, the word “y’all” would probably drown out all the other words. It slides out of your mouth as smooth as soft butter on a hot biscuit. An impartial little one-syllable word, it’s not concerned about race, class, gender or locale, because y’all is 100% inclusive. Y’all means all, y’all. So, is it any wonder that y’all is rapidly making the scene as a better way to say “you guys” in all kinds of places north of the Mason-Dixon line? Unlike other languages, English doesn’t have a second-person plural pronoun — a word that’s used to address a group of people. Back in the day, “ye” was sufficient, but seriously y’all: “Come on ‘ye’, let’s eat before the cornbread gets cold?” It doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Y'all is a contraction of "you" and "all" and has served as a marker of second person plural. For a long time now, "you guys" has been the dominant turn of phrase in most places when addressing two or more people. However, "you guys" is forged in the masculine, so when we say "you guys" to a group of men and women, it leaves some women looking over their shoulders, wondering if you're talking to them. Now, most folks have swapped out “you guys” for “y’all” because it’s all-inclusive. With all the diverse groups that have come on the scene today, using “y’all” covers……..well…….all of y’all.
