you-allpron.

Etymology: < you pron. + all adj. In β. forms the first element probably shows an unstressed variant either of you pron., or of ye pron. in use as both a subject and an object form: compare discussion of forms at you pron. Probably originally a plural form with plural reference, but sometimes used with singular reference, perhaps arising from contexts where used in addressing a single individual but with intended inclusive reference to a group, ‘you and your family’, ‘you and your colleagues’, etc., or more vaguely ‘you or any of the others’ (perhaps compare quot. 1824 at α. ); compare also the marked plural forms you-uns pron., yez pron., yous pron., you-alls pron.¹ Sometimes used (with either singular or plural reference) to mark familiarity or informality, in distinction to more formal you pron.For comment on usage compare:1919 H. L. Mencken Amer. Lang. 215 In the South..the true plural is commonly indicated by you-all.1926 Amer. Speech 2 476/1 I was born in South Carolina..and have worked on a New Orleans paper for two years, and I have not once in my life heard the expression ‘you-all’ used except in plural address.1927 Amer. Speech 3 5 You-all certainly is used as singular in the Ozarks—I have heard it daily for weeks at a time. You-uns, however,..is nearly always plural in the Ozark country.1928 Amer. Speech 4 54 Here in Missouri..I have again and again heard ‘you all’ used in speaking to one person.1944 Amer. Speech 19 147/2 In almost a score of years of residence in North Carolina I have never heard anyone say ‘you all’, unless the plural was definitely and distinctly intended. For a suggestion of a possible context for the development of the β. forms in the English of immigrants from Scotland or Ireland see M. Montgomery The etymology of y'all in J. H. Hall et al. Old English and New (1992) 356–69.