All’s I Know

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "all’s I know" means "all I know." The added "’s" comes from older dialect patterns where "as" slipped into the phrase.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #Southern

Hillbilly Dude Says...

Whenever I get re-asked about somethin', I'm bound to say, 'all’s I know is...'. this one is common down here.

Pronunciation

[AWLZ eye NO] /ɔlz aɪ noʊ/

Meaning & Usage

- A way of saying "all I know" (phrase)

Ruth:

Why’d he run off?

Earl:

All’s I know is he wasn’t stickin’ around to explain.

variations: all as I know

★ Don’t overthink the grammar - it’s just how speech runs together. The "’s" is a holdover from "all as I know." ★

Origin

The phrase likely comes from older British and Scots dialect patterns where "as" was added in expressions like "all as I know." Early settlers in Appalachia carried it along, and in local speech it became "all’s I know."

Notes

Still heard in Southern and Appalachian rural talk today.
Often used to emphasize limited knowledge in storytelling.
Not considered formal English, but natural in spoken dialect.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

What does "all’s I know" mean?

It simply means "all I know." The "’s" is a dialect feature.

Is this only Southern?

It’s strongest in Southern and Appalachian speech, but older dialects in Britain and New England used similar forms.

Do people still use it today?

Yes, especially in rural and older Southern/Appalachian communities.

Is it considered correct grammar?

Not in formal English, but it’s natural and authentic in regional speech.

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