Pirate Lingo

How to talk like a pirate

Greetings

If yer gonna to join a crew, ye better learn the lingo. I’m Swabby, I’ll be teachin’ ye how to be a true buccaneer!

“Put your back into it!” This is when you want the crew to move faster!

Argh! (“Yarrr!”or “Arrr!”)	A positive response or expression of excitement
Avast Ye	Stop and check this out
Aye	Yes
Aye Aye	I’ll get this done right away
Blow Me Down!	Phrase of shock or amazement
Davy Jones’ Locker	An evil spirit at the bottom of the ocean, drawing pirates to their death
Dead Men Tell No Tales	Leave no survivors
Feed the Fish	About to die
Fire in the Hole	Warning before a cannon is fired
Heave Ho	Put yer muscle into it
Jolly Roger	Classic black pirate flag with white skull and crossbones
Shiver Me Timbers!	An expression of shock
Walk the Plank	Method of execution where bound victim is forced to walk off the ship to their doom
Yo Ho Ho!	Cheery phrase to get someone’s attention

Bilge-Sucking	An insulting expression of disdain
Carouser	Reckless or loud person who drinks excessively
Landlubber	A person unfamiliar with the sea or sailing
Scallywag	A rookie pirate
Scourge of the 7 Seas	The worst kind of pirate
Scurvy Dog	Yer teeth might fall out
Son of a Biscuit Eater	Another insult, bread related

Looking to insult an enemy crew member! Scurvy Dog’ll do it!

Booty	A treasure
Bounty	A reward put on the capture of a pirate
Coffer	The treasure chest
Plunder	Take the booty or steal

Bow	Front of a ship, also called “forward”.
Broadside	The most vulnerable angle of a ship that runs the length of the boat. The main cannons are located here.
Chaser	Cannons mounted in the bow or stern of a sailing ship.
Clipper	Fast-moving boat or ship
Cog	Smaller war ship
Crow’s Nest	A small lookout platform near the top of the mast to see long distances
Dinghy	A small (row) boat often used to ferry pirates from the ship to shore. In Plunder Panic, it be full of explosives and dubbed “Death’s Row”!
Forecastle	The forward deck of the ship. My sword shop be located here.
Galley	A long slender ship propelled manually by oars. Also where food is cooked and prepared on a ship.
Hull	This is the watertight body of the ship that allows it to float. Put a few holes in this and the ship will sink.
Poop Deck	The deck above the “aft” cabin (typically above the captains quarters) used by officers for observation; derived from French word “La Poupe”, meaning stern.
Port	Nautical term for left side of ship.
Starboard	Nautical term for right side of ship.
Stern	Rear of a ship. Also called “aft”.