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The Difference Between 'Y'all' and 'All Y'all'

By
Home Inspector with Complete Home Inspections, Inc. TN Lic#050

    Good Friday evening Y’all. Having been reared south of the Mason-Dixon line, the terms ‘Y’all’ and “all y’all’ have been a part of my vocabulary forever.  Yes, I know that y’all is plural and ‘all y’all is plural as well. So for y’all that ain’t accustomed to Southern or even Texan, there is a big difference.
    For example, one can say to a group (2 or more for 'all y’all' living beyond the borders), “Y’all come over here!” The group that was address knows that everyone needs to come over here. As in the case of the ‘all y’all in parentheses means that ‘all y’all’ is an exclusionary. It means that 'all y’all' are excluded in the original saying. It is a contextual thing! There is the proper context and usage between the two contractions. Easy for folks within the borders to understand but difficult for folks who live beyond the line to comprehend. "Bless your hearts, I know y'all don't understand." And, no, I am not talking in circles - How dare!
    Y’all can be singular as in, “Y’all need to hush, now.” It would be rude and harsh to say to someone, “You need to hush, now.” The singular, contraction, ‘y’all’ softens the directive.
    I am glad that I am a southerner and I do my best to educate folks that move into the great city of Nashville the difference between ‘y’all’ and ‘all y’all’. Still confused? Move within the borders. Y’all will learn. Trust me.

;-)

It is a GREAT day at Complete Home Inspections!

Posted by

Complete Home Inspections, Brentwood TN 615.661.0297
 

Comments (53)

Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

I have problems identifying Aussies from British. Sometimes I can often I can not.

Nov 29, 2015 05:50 AM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

I get the difference but still enjoyed reading your blog! Where I have trouble is when people say stuff like pillar for pillow or war for wire!!!

Nov 29, 2015 06:08 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one confused... so I probably won't use either, because I'd probably get it wrong... and you'd snicker and say: "Damn Yankee".

Nov 29, 2015 06:24 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I love visiting the south and listening to Southerners talk. I'll sit all day in a restaurant just to hear myself called sugar and honeychild. But then they don't know the difference between catty corner and kitty corner so it works out.

Nov 29, 2015 07:00 AM
Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert
Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

I may not know how to decipher between "y'all" and "all y'all" but I know what "all" is(it's that liquid gold stuff that comes out of the ground that you put in to a car's engine). 

Nov 29, 2015 08:30 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Michael, having lived in Texas and Florida and been around Southern mother-in-law, y'all has become part of my vocabulary as well. 

Nov 29, 2015 09:04 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

  The South!

      I'm from Florida (7th Generation).  Up here in Tallahassee "Y'all" is how we say it.   But I have also lived in Western North Carolina; them thar mountain folks say "You'uns" and "We'uns" along with "Y'all".

Nov 29, 2015 09:22 AM
John McCormack, CRS

Yuns


 Fred Griffin 

Nov 29, 2015 11:21 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I love hearing it, but am still confused about the usage. No problem because I'm not expected to use it here in NH. LOL

Nov 29, 2015 10:05 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks for the lesson Michael, a bit confusing at first, but I did know the "bless your hearts" reference though.

Nov 29, 2015 12:24 PM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I am still confused, but i guess y'all in the south know what this means.

Nov 29, 2015 12:26 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I enjoyed reading your post. I am glad I am not expected to say the words here in Philly. 

Nov 29, 2015 08:21 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

A fun read, Michael. And as a New Yorker, ya'll is really "youse" and "youse guys."

Nov 29, 2015 09:32 PM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Good morning Michael, when I moved from NY to FL, I had to learn a new language, thanks for this fun post! 

Nov 29, 2015 10:56 PM
Bill Roberts
Brooks and Dunphy Real Estate - Oceanside, CA
"Baby Boomer" Retirement Planner

Michael Thornton Since I watch RFD-TV on a regular basis I hear y'all and all y'all fairly often. It's not hard to figure out when you  hear them in context.

Bill Roberts

Nov 29, 2015 11:02 PM
Gary L. Waters Broker Associate, Bucci Realty
Bucci Realty, Inc. - Melbourne, FL
Eighteen Years Experience in Brevard County

Y'all better listen here as this is the truth...the gospel!

Nov 29, 2015 11:47 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Michael, I did not realize you talked like me. It's really quite simple; I don't know why everyone seems to be so confused. You DO know the real meaning of "Bless Your Heart", right? 

Nov 30, 2015 06:48 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Y'all made me smile just reading this post and the comments!

Nov 30, 2015 10:07 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Michael Thornton 

This was a fun read! I get the y"all, as I throw one in now and then although not so sure why. I was born in KY but only lived there 6 months! It's not a New England thing where I spent 20+ years! "All y'all" seems redundant. So I am just confused. And now that I am in California..."dude" can work for both men and women!

Jeff

Nov 30, 2015 12:08 PM
RealtyTech Inc.
Real Estate Technology and Marketing - Thousand Oaks, CA
Premium Websites/IDX/Marketing for Realtors

Good Morning Michael,

This post really enjoyable to read!  I had no idea y'all could be singular. Thanks for the fun post!

Dec 01, 2015 12:46 AM
Winston Heverly
Coldwell Banker Access Realty - South Macon, GA
GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

Hi, really enjoyed your post, I'm glad I stumbled upon it from the achieves. Make this a successful week.

Dec 04, 2015 12:33 PM