In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Tickled" first means being amused to the point of laughing (often unexpectedly), and second means pleased or delighted - a regional expansion of the older English word "tickle."
When I get cracked up, I usually say 'tickled.' This one's common down here.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
When I get cracked up, I usually say 'tickled.' This one's common down here.
Pronunciation
[TIK-uhld] /ˈtɪkəld/
Meaning & Usage
- Amused to the point of laughing (cracking up) (verb / participle)
Everyday speech
Pearl:
We were watchin’ that serious play"
Jeb:
"but I couldn’t help but get tickled at Dracula’s afro.
- Pleased or delighted (adjective)
Everyday speech
Mae:
I’m just tickled y’all came to see me.
variations: Cracked Up, Burst Out Laughing, Got the Giggles, Delighted, Pleased
★ In Southern/Appalachian English, "got tickled" is the go-to way of saying "I cracked up laughing" - especially in situations where you’re not supposed to. It also retains the older "I’m tickled" meaning "I’m pleased," but the laughing sense is the hallmark. ★
Origin and Etymology
From Old English "ticclian" (to touch lightly). By the 1600s "tickle" could mean "delight" as well as "physically tickle." Southern/Appalachian speech extended this to "got tickled" = "cracked up laughing," documented in rural newspapers and oral histories since at least the late 19th century.
Usage Notes
Still widely heard in Southern/Appalachian speech. "Got tickled" is especially used for laughing when you shouldn’t - at church, in school, at a funeral. Outside the region "tickled" is understood as "pleased," but not often as "cracked up laughing."
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it natural: "got tickled" - used for laughing or cracking up, especially when you shouldn’t. Also "I’m tickled" to mean "I’m pleased."
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
When I get cracked up, I usually say 'tickled.' This one's common down here. 
