PronounA1

all

all (of a group) · everything

Means 'all' or 'everyone/everything'. It is used to refer to the whole of a group or amount, often with a plural noun or verb. In everyday German it is very common and neutral in tone.

What all means

all (of a group) — Referring to every person or thing in a group, often with plural nouns or pronouns.
everything — Used alone to mean 'everything' or 'all things'.

Heard in real German videos

Lines where all was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.

Ihr kommt alle an den Freundlichkeitsbaum.You all come to the kindness tree.
Die sehen alle gleich aus.They all look the same.
Nach all den ganzen Jahren ist sie mein.After all these years, she's mine.

Example sentences

Alle Kinder sind da.All the children are here.
Ich habe alles verstanden.I understood everything.
Wir gehen alle ins Kino.We are all going to the cinema.
All die Mühe war umsonst.All the effort was in vain.

Grammar

Type	Indefinite pronoun
Forms	aller, alle, alles, allem, allen
Usage	Often used with plural verbs or as a determiner before a noun.

When used before a definite article or demonstrative, 'all' is often followed by the dative plural 'den' (e.g., 'all den Jahren').

Common phrases

alle zusammenall together
vor allemabove all, especially
alles Guteall the best
ein für alle Malonce and for all

The mistake English speakers make

English speakers often use 'alle' when they mean 'alles' (everything). Use 'alle' for people or plural nouns, 'alles' for 'everything'.

Don’t confuse it with

alles — 'Alles' means 'everything' (singular), while 'alle' means 'all' (plural) referring to people or countable things.
jeder — 'Jeder' means 'each/every' individually, while 'alle' refers to the group as a whole.

Questions learners ask

What is the difference between 'alle' and 'alles'?

'Alle' is used for plural nouns or people (e.g., 'alle Kinder'), while 'alles' means 'everything' and is singular (e.g., 'alles ist gut').

How do you decline 'all' in German?

It follows the adjective declension: 'aller' (masc. nom.), 'alle' (fem./plural nom.), 'alles' (neut. nom.), with dative 'allem/aller/allen' and accusative 'allen/alle/alles'.

Can 'all' be used with a definite article?

Yes, but then it often appears as 'all der/die/das' or 'all den' (dative plural), e.g., 'all die Mühe' or 'nach all den Jahren'.