Zackly
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "zackly" is a dialect form of "exactly." It means the same thing, but carries a down-home flavor in pronunciation.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
In our house, it normally comes like 'a'zackly', but unhillbillies may not notice the 'a.' Some people say 'zacksly' or 'zaxly.' Hillbilly Dude Says...
In our house, it normally comes like 'a'zackly', but unhillbillies may not notice the 'a.' Some people say 'zacksly' or 'zaxly.' Pronunciation
[ZACK-lee]
Meaning & Usage
- Exactly; precisely (adverb)
Mae:
That pie tastes like Granny’s.
That pie tastes like Granny’s.
Earl:
Zackly right.
Zackly right.variations: exactly, zacksly, ’zactly, a’zackly
★ "Zackly" is one of many clipped pronunciations in Southern/Appalachian talk (*pert near* for "pretty near," *’bout* for "about"). It shows how everyday words shift in rhythm and sound. ★
Origin and Etymology
From "exactly," reduced in dialect speech to "’zactly" and then "zackly." Collected in Appalachian and Southern dialect studies, and common in oral storytelling.
Usage Notes
Still used playfully in the South and Appalachia, often in writing to mimic local speech. Rare outside the region, except when folksy style is intended.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "zack-lee." Or "a-zack-lee." A shortened form of "exactly."