What Y’all Been Into?
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "What y’all been into?" is a friendly, informal greeting meaning "What have you been doing?" or "What’s going on with you?" It’s the regional cousin of "What have you been up to?"
#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern
synonyms: hello, greeting
Hillbilly Dude Says...
‘What y’all been into?’ is super common, you'll hear this often. Hillbilly Dude Says...
‘What y’all been into?’ is super common, you'll hear this often. Pronunciation
[WUT y’all BIN IN-too]
Meaning & Usage
- A friendly question asking what someone has been doing (informal greeting)
Mae:
What y’all been into?
What y’all been into?
Earl:
Oh, just workin’ and fishin’ a little.
Oh, just workin’ and fishin’ a little.★ "What y’all been into?" is a social icebreaker. It doesn’t imply wrongdoing - it’s just a warm way to check in. The "y’all" and "been into" make it sound naturally Southern. ★
Origin and Etymology
Derived from the widespread phrase "What have you been up to?" but with the distinctive Southern plural "y’all" and the colloquial "been into" construction. Documented across the South and Appalachia as a familiar porch or family greeting.
Usage Notes
Still very common in the South and Appalachia. Outside the region, people may use "What have you been up to?" but rarely "What y’all been into?" except as a playful imitation.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "what y’all been in-too?" - a casual check-in, not a literal question about mischief.
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 19). What Y’all Been Into?. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/what-yall-been-into
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "What Y’all Been Into?." HillbillySlang.com, 19 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/what-yall-been-into.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "What Y’all Been Into?." HillbillySlang.com. September 19, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/what-yall-been-into.
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