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.
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. 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/
/ɔlz aɪ noʊ/
Meaning & Usage
- A way of saying "all I know" (phrase)
Ruth:
Why’d he run off?
Why’d he run off?
Earl:
All’s I know is he wasn’t stickin’ around to explain.
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 and Etymology
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."
Usage 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
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 30). All’s I Know. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/alls-i-know
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "All’s I Know." HillbillySlang.com, 30 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/alls-i-know.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "All’s I Know." HillbillySlang.com. September 30, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/alls-i-know.
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Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...