I don't rightly know Meaning in English

expression

US

EYE DONT RITE-lee NOH

UK

EYE DON'T RITE-lee NOH

Definition

A casual or regional way to say you don't know something for sure or aren't certain of the answer.

Usage & Nuances

Mainly used in rural, Southern, or Western US English; very informal and somewhat old-fashioned. Emphasizes a lack of certainty or exact knowledge, softer than 'I don't know.' Not common in formal writing.

• Spanish: la verdad no lo sé - realmente no lo sé
• Portuguese (BR): eu realmente não sei
• Portuguese (PT): eu sinceramente não sei
• Chinese (Simplified): 我也说不准 - 我确实不知道
• Chinese (Traditional): 我也說不準 - 我確實不知道
• Hindi: मुझे सही से नहीं पता
• Arabic: لا أعلم حقًا
• Bengali: আমি ঠিক জানি না
• Russian: я точно не знаю
• Japanese: 実のところわかりません
• Vietnamese: tôi thực sự không biết
• Korean: 정확히는 잘 몰라요
• Turkish: doğruyu söylemek gerekirse bilmiyorum
• Urdu: مجھے صحیح معنوں میں نہیں معلوم
• Indonesian: saya juga kurang tahu

Example Sentences

I don't rightly know the answer to your question.

basic

I'm sorry, I don't rightly know when he will arrive.

basic

I don't rightly know how this machine works.

basic

Honestly, I don't rightly know what happened last night.

natural

They asked me about the old bridge, but I don't rightly know if it's still standing.

natural

Some folks say it’ll rain, but I don't rightly know myself.

natural