what-all

UK[ˈwɒt ɔːl]US[ˈwʌt ɑːl]

pron

Everything or anything that; whatever (used in informal speech, especially in some regional dialects of the US)

pron

Used to ask for a list or enumeration of things, often implying a wide or unspecified range (used in informal speech, especially in some regional dialects of the US)

Etymology

The compound pronoun 'what-all' is a modern, informal formation in English, originating from the simple combination of the interrogative/relative pronoun 'what' and the universal quantifier 'all'. Its construction follows a common pattern in Germanic languages for creating indefinite or all-encompassing pronouns, similar to 'whatever' or 'whatsoever'. The term is primarily associated with Southern and Midland American English dialects, where it functions to express a non-specific totality or to request an exhaustive list, adding a colloquial emphasis. Its logic is transparently additive, merging the basic sense of inquiry or indefiniteness ('what') with the sense of completeness ('all') to create a single functional unit meaning "all the things that".

Analysis

N/A

Examples

She told me what-all she needed from the grocery store.

I can't remember what-all we talked about at the meeting.

What-all did you pack for the trip?