General Talkin’ Rules
Shorten most words especially those ending in “ing” – drop the g sound
Traveling = Travelin’ • Talking = Talkin’ • Going = Goin’
Me and Be are used a lot – My = Me • Is = Be
My Ship Is Loaded Down With Treasure. = Me Ship Be Loaded Down With Booty.
My Ship Is The Best. = Me Ship Be The Best.
Am = Be
I Am Looking For Blackbeard. = I Be Lookin’ For Blackbeard.
Are = Be
We Are Wanting Some Food = We Be Wantin’ Some Grub.
Beginners Pirate Talkin’ Words
Ahoy = Hey! used to get someone’s attention
Am = Be
Are = Be
Arrr! Argh! Arrgh! Harr! Rrrr! = Can be used anytime for fun
Avast = “What’s up?”
Avast, Me Hearty? = What’s up my friend?
Aye = Yes – use this one often, it’s always a good answer to a question
Booty = Treasure
Bucko = A friend
Galley = Kitchen
Gangway! = Clear the way
Grog = A pirate’s favorite drink.
Grub = food
Is = Be
Lad = Young man
Lass = Young woman.
Matey = A shipmate or a friend.
Me Hearty = a friend or shipmate.
My = Me
Plunder = Treasure stolen from others
Thar = The opposite of “here.” Same as “there.”
Walk the plank = Punishment for traitors – Walk off plank into the sea.
Ye = You
Your – Yer
Yo-ho-ho = Pirate laughter – Completely meaningless, but fun to say.
Advanced Pirate Talkin’ Words
Buccaneer = A pirate who be answerin’ to no man
Davy Jones’ Locker = At the bottom o’ the sea
He’s gone to Davy Jones’s locker = He is dead.
Dead men tell no tales = the reason pirates leave no survivors
Doubloons = pieces of gold
Hang the jib = To look annoyed. To pout.
Hankerin’ = Wanting – I be hankerin’ for some Grog.
Jolly Roger = Black flag with skull and crossbones, the pirate flag!
Landlubber = “Land-lover,” someone not used to life onboard a ship.
Lily-livered = faint o’ heart, easily scared
Pieces o’ eight = pieces o’ silver which can be cut into eights to be givin’ small change.
Pillage = Take something that doesn’t belong to you. Pirates do this a lot.
Scallywag = A bad person. A scoundrel.
Seadog = Experienced sailor
Shiver me timbers! = an exclamation of surprise, usually shouted loudly.
Swab the deck = Wash the floor
Swashbucklin’ = fightin’ and carousin’ on the high seas!
Worth your salt = Being good at something