reckon
Suppose or think — the Southern way to float an opinion.
Updated September 24, 2026
reckon pronunciation
/RECK-un/
Meaning
Means you figure something is so, without pounding the table. "I reckon it'll rain" or "I reckon so." In the rural South and Appalachia it's everyday opinion talk, soft as a shrug and common as porch weather chat. Can also mean expect or plan to ("You reckon to call the sheriff?"). Outsiders hear country; locals just mean they think.
How folks use it
- “I reckon we ought to head back before dark.”
- “You reckon that truck will start after sitting all winter?”
Origin and etymology
Old English gerecenian meant to recount or arrange; the "suppose/think" sense dates to around 1600 and was once literary English. In the U.S. it stuck as a Southern and South Midland marker while sounding folksy elsewhere. Britain still uses reckon for "think" more widely. American Heritage flags the "I reckon" opinion sense as chiefly Southern.
Frequently asked questions
Does reckon mean you're unsure?
Sometimes. It can be a soft guess or a settled opinion — tone tells you which. "I reckon so" often just means yes.