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.

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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.

Pronunciation

[RAHT-lee] /ˈraɪt.li/

Meaning & Usage

- Truly / For certain (adverb)

Elmer:

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.

Origin

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."

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").

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Common Questions

Is "rightly" only Southern?

No, it exists in standard English, but the sense of "really / for certain" has stayed strongest in Southern and Appalachian speech.

Why do Southerners say "don’t rightly know"?

It’s a carryover from older English usage, where "rightly" could mean "truly" or "exactly." That sense survived regionally in the South and Appalachia.

Do people still use "rightly" today?

Yes. It’s less common outside the South, but phrases like "don’t rightly know" are still heard in everyday Southern conversation.