I Know It

In Southern and Appalachian speech, I know it is a way of affirming or agreeing - a colorful stand-alone response meaning "Yes, indeed" or "I sure do know."

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synonyms: I know, I sure do, yes indeed, absolutely

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I use 'I know it' often when I'm talking to my young'uns about somethin' important to them.

Pronunciation

[AH KNOW-it] /aɪ ˈnoʊ ɪt/

Meaning & Usage

- Affirmation or strong agreement (saying/response)

Ella:

This pie’s good as Granny’s.

Ruby:

I know it.

variations: I know it, I shore know it, I know it right

★ Southerners often add "it" to "I know" as an intensifier - a holdover from Scots-Irish English that gives the phrase a fuller, emphatic feel. ★

Origin

"I know it" descends from older British and Scots-Irish dialect patterns where "it" acted as a pronominal tag. This construction has been documented in Appalachian speech since the early 20th century and remains common in everyday conversation.

Notes

I know it - used as a stand-alone affirmation or agreement, not just a statement of knowledge.
Variants include "I shore know it" or "I know it right" as intensifiers.
Especially common among older or rural Southern/Appalachian speakers.
Comparable to "I heard it," "I seen it" and other dialect patterns that add "it" for emphasis.
Outside the South people usually say just "I know" or "I know, right?"

Kin Topics

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Common Questions

Does "I know it" mean something different from "I know"?

Yes - in Southern/Appalachian speech it’s more like "Yes indeed" or "I sure do know," used to affirm rather than state.

Is it still used today?

Yes - still common in rural speech, church conversations, and among older Southerners.

Where did it come from?

From Scots-Irish English dialect features brought to Appalachia, where "it" functions as a pronominal tag for emphasis.

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