Pirate Terms and Phrases

If you are looking to dress up like a pirate for the next Halloween or a costume party, you might want to learn some pirate terms and phrases so that you can really get into character.

If you think that there are only a few pirate terms and phrases to learn, you are absolutely mistaken! After reading this list, you will see that there is quite a bit more to speaking pirate than running around and say "Aargh!"

We have included the pirate phrases, as well as the modern English translation of that phrase.

• All hands hoay=Everyone get on the deck
• Avast ye=Pay attention
• Black spot=Death threat
• Dance the hempen jig=To hang someone
• Dungbie=Rear end
• Hempen halter=The noose used to hang people
• Hornswaggle=To cheat
• Shiver me timbers=An expression used to show shock or disbelief
• Abaft=Back area of the boat
• Binnacle=Where the compass is kept on board the ship
• Cackle fruit=Chicken eggs
• Coaming=A surface that prevented water on the deck from dripping to lower levels of the ship
• Duffle=A sailor's belongings
• Head=Toilet on board the ship
• Holystone=Sandstone that was used to scrub the ships
• Jacob's Ladder=Rope ladder that was used to climb aboard ships
• Monkey=Small cannon
• Monkey jacket=Short jacket worn by some of those aboard the ship
• Orlop=Deck where cables are stored away
• Poop deck=Deck that is the highest and farthest back
• Cockswain=The helmsman
• Flibustier=Pirates of the Golden Age
• Freebooter=Refers to an actual pirate
• Landlubber=A person who is not incredibly skilled at sea
• Powder monkey=A gunner's assistant
• Black jack=Large drinking cups
• Davy Jones' Locker=Refers to death
• Ahoy=Hello
• Ahoy, matey=Hello, friend
• Batten down the hatches=A signal to prepare the ship for an upcoming storm
• Blimey!=Something said when one is in a state of surprise
• Blow the man down=A command which means to kill somebody
• Booty=Treasure
• Buccaneer=Name for a pirate
• Crow's nest=The place on the ship where the lookout stand is built
• Cutlass=Type of sword used by the pirates
• Feed the fish=Meaning that an individual or group of individuals will soon die
• Heave ho=Instruction to put some strength into whatever one is doing
• Jolly Roger=The famous pirate flag with a skull and crossbones on it
• Man-O-War=The name used for a pirate ship that is all set and ready to go to war
• Old salt=A sailor that has a great deal of experience on the seas
• Privateer=Pirates who are sponsored by the government
• Scallywag=A name that is used as an insult to someone
• Scuttle=To sink a ship
• Seadog=An old sailor or pirate
• Shark bait=Going to die soon
• Thar she blows!=An expression used when a whale is spotted from the ship
• Son of a biscuit eater=An insult
• Three sheets to the wind=Someone who is quite drunk
• Walk the plank=A punishment which entails someone who walks over the side of the ship off of the plank. Their hands are often tied so that they cannot swim and they drowned.
• Yo Ho Ho=There is often used to express some sort of cheer but also can be used to call attention to the speaker.

You might be surprised to see some of the items on this list. In fact, certain expressions have made their way into every day life. For example, people often say "Three sheets to the wind" about a drunk person at a party or they will call a rascal a "scallywag." Learning about how languages blend into each other is extremely interesting.