Rightly
"Rightly" in Southern and Appalachian speech often means "really" or "for certain," especially in phrases like "don’t rightly know" or "can’t rightly tell." It comes from an older English use of the word that has mostly faded elsewhere.
synonyms: truly, exactly, for certain, correctly
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I say 'rightly,' but usually in a sillier way. I'd say this is more old timers. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I say 'rightly,' but usually in a sillier way. I'd say this is more old timers. Pronunciation
[RAHT-lee] /ˈraɪt.li/
Meaning & Usage
- Truly / For certain (adverb)
Elmer:
I don’t rightly know when the preacher’s coming by.
I don’t rightly know when the preacher’s coming by.- Correctly / Justly (adverb, general English)
Clara:
She was rightly proud of her prize-winning pie.
She was rightly proud of her prize-winning pie.Origin and Etymology
From Old English rihtlīce, meaning "justly, according to rule." In Southern and Appalachian speech, the older adverbial sense survived in common sayings like "don’t rightly know."
Usage Notes
- In everyday Southern and Appalachian use, rightly often means "for sure" or "exactly," especially when admitting uncertainty.
- Common expressions include: don’t rightly know and can’t rightly tell.
- Outside the South, rightly is more often heard in formal speech (e.g., "She was rightly praised").