Can’t Rightly Tell

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "can’t rightly tell" means "I can’t say for certain" or "I don’t exactly know." It reflects an older English use of rightly that has stuck around in the region.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #OldTimers #Southern

synonyms: can’t say for sure, not certain, don’t exactly know

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I'd say 'can’t rightly tell' is more old timers nowadays.

Pronunciation

[Kaent RAHHT-lee Tel] /kænt ˈraɪt.li tɛl/

Meaning & Usage

- I can’t say for certain (phrase)

Estel:

How old’s that barn, you reckon?

Elmer:

I can’t rightly tell - it was here before my time.

Origin

Formed with the older adverbial sense of rightly, meaning "truly" or "for certain." This phrase, like don’t rightly know, is a long-standing feature of Southern and Appalachian speech.

Notes

Used to admit uncertainty without overcommitting - often in rural conversation.
Closely related to don’t rightly know, both reflecting the same dialectal pattern.
Outside the South/Appalachia, this phrase is rare and may sound old-fashioned.

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Common Questions

Is "can’t rightly tell" only Southern?

It’s heard almost exclusively in Southern and Appalachian dialects, though it may appear in old books or folksy writing elsewhere.

Does it mean you don’t know at all?

Not always. It often means you don’t know exactly or can’t be precise.

Do people still use "can’t rightly tell"?

Yes, though it’s more common among older speakers and in rural areas.

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