Every individual or anything of the given class, with no exceptions (the noun or noun phrase denoting the class must be plural or uncountable).
Origin:From , from , from , from , of uncertain origin but perhaps from . Cognate with , a', aa, aal, aw, , al, all, aul, , aale, ale, ali, åle, , aal, , , , , ołły, , , , , , all, ; also , , , eile, uile, uileag, uilig, , , uileag, , . The dialectal sense “all gone” is a . The use in who all, where all etc. also has equivalents in German (see alles). Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents
All means: Every individual or anything of the given class, with no exceptions .. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
all means: Every individual or anything of the given class, with no exceptions .. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself. A formal-English equivalent (a synonym or descriptive phrase) is usually safer in writing. When in doubt, paraphrase rather than reuse the slang form.
For specific readers
All means: Every individual or anything of the given class, with no exceptions .. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.