[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

Y'all is word that is badly in need of use in America as Engish has no word for "all of you." However, it is my understanding that the Southern work "y'all" is meant to apply to a single person "y'all" rather than to "y'all" as a group.

[Dog Gone]

In practice it applies to both, although it usually refers to the plural. We actually do use the word "you" most of the time.

[NoelFigart]

Y’all is a contraction for “you all”, therefore is most certainly plural.

If you have ever a situation where it seemed that a single person was being addressed as “y’all”, it is far more likely that the speaker as addressing the person as a representative of a business, organization or specific group of people, therefore, it is still a plural usage.

“Y’all come back now, y’hear?” seemingly addressed to a single person is actually an expression that means that person and his or her family is welcome for a return visit.

I live in New England now, but I’m a 14th generation Virginian. I don’t use my Tidewater accent outside of family situations as it is likely to be misinterpreted that I am unintelligent or worse.