Kindly
In Appalachian speech, "kindly" often means "kind of" or "somewhat," softening a statement or making it less direct.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Kindly' is still being used in place of 'kinda'. And I kindly enjoy it. Pronunciation
[KINE-lee]
Meaning & Usage
- Somewhat, Kind of (adverb)
Elmer:
Was it cold up on the ridge?
Was it cold up on the ridge?
Estel:
It was kindly chilly, but not too bad.
It was kindly chilly, but not too bad.variations: kindlee, kind-a, kinda
★ If someone says it was "kindly rough," it might mean anything from a little bumpy to downright dangerous. ★
Origin
From the standard English "kindly," originally meaning "in a kind manner." In Appalachian speech, the meaning shifted to function as an adverb equivalent to "kind of" or "somewhat," a usage preserved from older rural English dialects.
Notes
"Kindly" in this sense doesn’t imply politeness - it’s about degree. It’s often used to hedge a statement or make an opinion less forceful. The word is usually spoken quickly, sometimes sounding like "kind-a" or "kinda."