Don’t Rightly Know

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "don’t rightly know" means "I don’t exactly know" or "I can’t say for certain." It reflects an older English use of rightly that survived in the hills and hollers.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #DialectandGrammar #OldTimers #Southern

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

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I do say 'I don’t rightly know' sometimes, but I'm mainly makin' fun of my own accent when I do. This one is more old timers.

Pronunciation

[Dohnt RAHHT-lee No] /doʊnt ˈraɪt.li noʊ/

Meaning & Usage

- I don’t exactly know (phrase)

Elmer:

When’s the fish fry startin’?

Clara:

I don’t rightly know - sometime after supper.

Origin

Built from the older adverbial sense of rightly, meaning "truly" or "for certain." This phrasing has been common in Southern and Appalachian speech since at least the 19th century.

Notes

Common in everyday rural speech as a modest or polite way of admitting uncertainty.
Closely related to can’t rightly tell, which carries the same meaning.
Outside the South/Appalachia, this phrase is less common, though still understood.

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Common Questions

Is "don’t rightly know" only Southern?

It’s mostly Southern/Appalachian. The structure is understood elsewhere, but it’s rarely heard outside those regions.

Does "don’t rightly know" mean you don’t know at all?

Not necessarily. It often means you don’t know *for sure* - leaving room for some guesswork.

Is this phrase still used today?

Yes. It may sound old-timey, but many Southerners and Appalachians still use it in casual speech.

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