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Pirate Lingo: Learn 50+ Pirate Words
Ahoy, maties! Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day 🏴☠️☠️🏴☠️
Ahoy, maties! Avast, ye! Stop what you are doing. If it’s September 19, then it’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day! The perfect excuse to drink industrial quantities of rum, grunt, growl, dress like Jack Sparrow, walk your parrot pet on the shoulder and call everyone you meet a scallywag. Blimey! That sure sounds like a lot of fun. Arr! So let’s walk the plank and see what’s this all about.
Top Pirate Phrases to Use
- Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!
- Ahoy!
- All hands on deck!
- Avast ye! (“stop what you’re doing and pay attention”)
- Blimey!
- Dead men tell no tales (“no survivors left behind”)
- Feed the fish (“to throw someone overboard”)
- No prey, no pay
- Scourge of the Seven Seas (“pirate with a bad reputation”)
- Shiver me timbers! (expression of surprise)
The Origins of Talk Like a Pirate Day
It was June 6, 1995, when John Baur and Mark Summers – later known by their pirate names Ol’ Chumbucket and Cap’n Slappy – played racquetball. The story says one of them got injured during the game and reacted with an outburst of “Arrr!”. Thus Talk Like a Pirate Day was born. Out of respect for the observance of World War II’s D-Day on the 6th of June, the soon-to-be world-renowned pirates decided to choose Summers’ now ex-wife’s birthday, September 19. to celebrate pirate lingo.
At first, Baur and Summers celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day as an inside joke between two friends. However, a few years later, they sent a letter to Dave Barry, a syndicated humor columnist, who liked the idea and released it into the world. The rest… is history.
Over the years, the idea gained a lot of notoriety and is now celebrated internationally by people and brands everywhere. For example, in 2008, to celebrate the day, Facebook introduced a pirate-translated version of its website.
How to Talk Like a Pirate, Perfecting Pirate Accent
Arr! All right, ye’ bilge rat! It’s time to teach ye’ how to talk like a real pirate!
You thought that using the right words would be enough? Not a chance! Pirate talk requires a hearty dose of swagger, a growling voice, and a flair for dramatic gestures. It’s not just what you say but how you say it that makes you truly sound like a buccaneer!
Step-By-Step Guide to Speaking Pirate
- Learn the pirate terms by heart: Memorize key pirate phrases and words so you can recall them instantly when needed.
- Use “Arr” as your go-to pirate exclamation: Make “arr” your signature sound for emphasis and excitement.
- Slur ye’ words as much as possible: Speak with a casual, slurred manner to capture the laid-back pirate drawl.
- Give up g’s and v’s in most words: Drop the endings of words like “sailing” to “sailin’” and “loving” to “lovin’”. Also replace “you” and “your” with “ye” and “yer” for an authentic touch.
- Swap “me” for “I” and “my”: Also use “meself” instead of “myself” to add pirate flair to your speech.
- Avoid modern slang words: Stick to traditional pirate vocabulary and steer clear of contemporary language to maintain authenticity.
- Growl a lot: Add growls and grunts to punctuate your sentences, sound more fearsome and take your pirate talk to the next level.
- Use plenty of insults, ye’ bilge rat: Don’t shy away from colorful insults and jibes; they are part of pirate camaraderie.
- Talk with a raspy voice: Emulate Jack Sparrow’s iconic rasp to give your pirate speech the perfect finishing touch.
Easy peasy, ain’t it?
Fun Facts and Trivia About Talk Like a Pirate Day
You already know the origin story of Talk Like a Pirate Day, but what about the lesser-known details? With so many years of celebration, there must be some intriguing facts about this event!
Indeed! Here are some fun facts and trivia about Talk Like a Pirate Day.
1. A US mayor once sparked a local controversy by issuing an official proclamation for Talk Like a Pirate Day
The mayor’s actions were criticized by the city’s former commissioner, who objected to the association with murderous seamen.
2. Astronauts once celebrated Talk Like a Pirate Day on the International Space Station
Imagine that! It must have been a fun day.
3. Barak Obama once marked the occasion with a costumed pirate in the Oval Office
The former US president tweeted an image with the caption, “Arr you in?”
4. Talk Like a Pirate Day is often celebrated with hidden Easter eggs in various games and websites
Examples include Facebook, Reddit, and O’Reilly, the book publisher.
Worldwide celebrations and other events
- Languages: While the day encourages pirate talk in English, many translations and adaptations have been made, so now you can also speak like a pirate in Spanish, French, and other languages.
- Pirate Names: A fun activity on Talk Like a Pirate Day is to generate your pirate name. Online generators can help you come up with creative and humorous pirate personas.
- Pirate-Themed Events: Museums and libraries often hold special events or educational programs to teach about the history of piracy and maritime exploration.
- Pirate Movies and Literature: The day often inspires marathons of popular pirate movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean” or readings of classic pirate literature such as “Treasure Island”.
- Charitable Aspect: Some groups use the day to raise funds for maritime-related charities, making the celebration not only fun but also beneficial to various causes.
- Cultural Impact: Talk Like a Pirate Day has become a part of popular culture, showing up in TV shows, games, and other media as a quirky and fun way to celebrate pirate history and language.
- Educational Opportunities: Educators use the day as a chance to teach students about the Golden Age of Piracy, including the lives of famous pirates like Blackbeard and Anne Bonny.
50 Useful Pirate Words and Phrases
| Pirate Word/Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ahoy | Hello |
| All Hands on Deck | Everyone come and help out |
| Avast | Stop; cease and pay attention |
| Aye | Yes |
| Aye Aye | Used by sailors to confirm they understood the orders |
| Bilge Rat | An insult referring to a rat that lives in the worst place on the ship – the bilge |
| Blimey | An expression of surprise or shock |
| Booty | Treasure |
| Buccaneer | Pirate or free sailor known in the Caribbean Sea during the 17th and 18th centuries |
| Bucko | Friend |
| Cat o'nine tails | A whip with nine strands |
| Chantey | Song sung together by pirates while they work |
| Clap of Thunder | Strong, alcoholic drink, like a shot |
| Coffer | Treasure chest |
| Crow’s Nest | Lookout platform on the ship's mast to see long distances |
| Davy Jones' Locker | The bottom of the sea, where dead pirates go |
| Dead Men Tell No Tales | Leave no survivors |
| Feed the Fish | About to die |
| Gangplank | Boarding plank |
| Grog | Rum or liquor diluted by water |
| Hands | Crew members or sailors of a ship |
| Hornswoggle | To deceive or cheat |
| Jacob's Ladder | A rope ladder |
| Jolly Boat | A ship's small boat for various purposes |
| Lad, Lass, Lassie | A younger person |
| Landlubber | A person unfamiliar with the sea or sailing |
| Lend a Hand | To help or assist |
| Marooned | Left stranded on a deserted island |
| Matey | A companion, a close friend |
| No Quarter | No mercy, give no quarter to the enemy |
| Old Salt | Experienced pirate |
| Pieces of Eight | Spanish silver coins used by pirates |
| Pirate Speak | How pirates communicate |
| Poop Deck | The highest deck at the stern of a ship |
| Privatter | Privately owned ship authorized to raid enemy vessels |
| Raise the Jolly Roger | Hoist the pirate flag |
| Scallywag | An insult for a mischievous or dishonest person |
| Scurvy Dog | An insult for a contemptible person |
| Scuttlebutt | Shipboard gossip or rumors |
| Sea Dog | An experienced sailor |
| Sea Legs | The ability to maintain balance and walk steadily on a moving ship |
| Shark Bait | Someone about to become shark food |
| Shipshape | In good order or condition |
| Sink Me | Expresses surprise or amazement |
| Swab the Deck | To clean the ship's deck |
| Take a Caulk | A pause from work |
| Thar She Blows! | Whale sighting |
| Thar She Glows! | When a ship is on fire |
| Walk the Plank | Force someone to walk off a plank on a ship; to accept the consequences |
| Weigh Anchor | Raise the anchor |
| Yo-Ho-Ho | An expression of delight |
Sail Away with the Pirate Spirit
What about you, matey? Will you be celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day this September? While donning a pirate costume and throwing a themed party might be tricky, learning some pirate words and phrases is an easy and enjoyable way to join in the fun.
Let’s face it—talking like a pirate all day long is even better than indulging in World Chocolate Day, aye?
So, dive into the festivities and share this article along with your favorite pirate phrase! 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
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Not gold or silver, but a treasure that’ll expand yer horizons!
If ye’ wish to learn a new language to help you in yer sea voyages, then ye need to check out Mondly.
With its interactive lessons and immersive features, Mondly will have ye speakin’ a new language faster than ye can say “Ahoy!”
