Dice
 
 
 
 
 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
When I say 'orta' I barely touch on the 'r'. But I do say it, and I hear it around town. 
Hillbilly Dude Says...
When I say 'orta' I barely touch on the 'r'. But I do say it, and I hear it around town. 

Pronunciation

[OR-tuh] or [AW-tuh]

Meaning & Usage

- Should / Supposed To (verb phrase)

Ruby:
It’s rainin’ somethin’ fierce.
Mae:
You orta carry an umbrella.
Earl:
Them young’uns orta be in school.
variations: orta, oughta, ought to, ort to
★ If someone says "you orta," they’re not just suggestin’ - they mean you *really should.* ★

Origin and Etymology

From "ought to," a phrase in English since the 14th century. In Appalachian and Southern speech, the sounds blurred into "orta" (or "oughta"), and that form stuck in everyday conversation.

Usage Notes

"Orta" is informal and folksy. You’ll hear it often in advice and everyday chatter. While "ought to" survives in formal writing, "orta" lives on in spoken dialect.

Say It Like a Southerner

Run "ought to" together quick, and it comes out "orta" or "oughta." In mountain talk it often sounds closer to "aw-tuh."

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Is "orta" a real word?
Not in standard English, but it’s a real spoken form in Appalachian and Southern dialects.
Does it mean the same as "should"?
Yes - "You orta rest" = "You should rest."
How is it different from "oughta"?
They’re the same thing - just different spellings of the same sound.
Do people still use it today?
Definitely. You’ll hear it often in rural areas and in family talk.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 20). Orta. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/orta
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Orta." HillbillySlang.com, 20 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/orta.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Orta." HillbillySlang.com. August 20, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/orta.
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