Have you ever wondered why pirates say “Arrr”? We answer this burning question with help from National Geographic and American Profile. Pronounced also as “Yarrr!” and “Arg!”, the word “Arrr!” is traditionally said by pirates when responding “yes” or when expressing excitement.
How do you spell r like a pirate?
Yarr. The rolling R’s of yarr (and arr) probably derive from a dialect of Southwest England. According to an article on the Dialect Blog, fictional pirates might speak with this accent because the popular actor Robert Newton used this type of accent when he portrayed Long John Silver and Blackbeard in films.
Where did pirates saying Arr come from?
The pirate phrase “Arrrgh” appeared in film as early as 1934; a character also uses the phrase in a 1940 novel by Jeffrey Farnol. But the phrase and accent were popularized by Robert Newton, the actor who played Long John Silver in the movies and on TV through much of the 1950s.
What do pirates always say?
Ahoy – A pirate greeting or a way to get someone’s attention, similar to “Hello” or “hey!”. Arrr, Arrgh, Yarr, Gar – Pirates slang used to emphasize a point. Avast – Pirate speak for pay attention. Aye aye – Confirmation that an order is understood.
Why do pirates say me hearties?
When pirates say “me hearties”, they’re giving due respect to a person for bravery or other admirable qualities. “Hearty” was even another word for “sailor” from the 18th to the early 20th century.
What did pirates Call breasts?
Deck Cargo. Naval slang for a woman’s breasts.
What do pirates call the toilet?
head
The head (pl. heads) is a ship’s toilet. The name derives from sailing ships in which the toilet area for the regular sailors was placed at the head or bow of the ship.
Why do pirates say Shiver me timbers?
The phrase is based on real nautical slang and is a reference to the timbers, which are the wooden support frames of a sailing ship. In heavy seas, ships would be lifted up and pounded down so hard as to “shiver” the timbers, startling the sailors.
How do pirates say yes?
‘ Say ‘aye’ in place of yes, but don’t say “nay” in place of no – not unless you want to talk like a pirate politician.
How do you talk like a pirate?
All you have to do is talk in a deep, gravelly voice, grunt and growl a lot, use insults abundantly, yell “arr!” every now and then, mumble incoherently from all the rum you’ve drunk, slur your words, give up g’s and v’s in most words, and replace “you” and your“ with “ye” and “yer”.
What would a pirate call a woman?
Pirate Lingo
| Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! | Pirate catch phrase of grumbling or disgust |
|---|---|
| Weigh Anchor and Hoist the Mizzen! | An order to the crew to pull up the anchor and get this ship sailing! |
| Wench | A woman or peasant girl |
| Ye | You |
What was a female pirate called?
Medieval and Renaissance pirates
| Name | Lifespan | Active |
|---|---|---|
| Grace O’Malley a.k.a. Gráinne Ní Mháille, Granuaile | c. 1530–1603 | 16th century |
| Sayyida al Hurra | 1485–1561 | 1515–1542 |
| Mary Wolverston, Lady Killigrew a.k.a. Elizabeth Killigrew; Old Lady Killigrew | fl. 1525–1587 | 16th century |
| Dorothy Monk, Lady Killigrew | 16th century |
What does a pirate call his wife?
matey (or mate)
How do pirates say hungry?
Pirates can use these emotes to emulate eating and drinking in game.
- /drink – “You pour a drink.”
- /eat – “You munch on some food.”
- /hungry – “You look hungry.”
- /rum – “You take a hearty swig a’ rum!”
- /thirsty – “You look thirsty.”
- /vittles – “You ask around for something to eat.”
What pirate ate hearts?
5 – Francois L’Olonnais
In fact, it is rumoured that he once ate the beating heart of a Spanish Captain before killing all the crew but one. This poor survival was told to relay the message that never again would any Spaniard have mercy from L’Olonnais.
What is a famous pirate saying?
Ahoy, Me Hearties! All Hand Hoy! Everyone get on deck! Pay attention and check this out!
What did pirates Call tattoos?
Tatoos or “gunpowder spots” on the arms of seamen from Taranto, Italy, in 1778. Note that one of the tattoos is of a chain around the wrist.
What did pirates call their guns?
Pirates made use of the musket, a name given to a variety of handheld long guns between the 16th and 19th centuries. Muskets fired a lead ball which was rammed down from the muzzle onto gunpowder, which was exploded with a slow match.
What is a legal pirate called?
A privateer was a pirate with papers. As the name suggests, privateers were private individuals commissioned by governments to carry out quasi-military activities. They would sail in privately owned armed ships, robbing merchant vessels and pillaging settlements belonging to a rival country.
What are pirate insults?
Here are some cool pirate insults to try:
- Rapscallion.
- Galley Slave.
- We’ll rip and burn yer jolly roger!
- Scabby sea bass.
- Dance with Jack Ketch.
- Dead men tell no tales.
- Hands off me booty!
- Ye lily-livered!
What do Marines call the bathroom?
head
The use of the term “head” to refer to a ship’s toilet dates to at least as early as 1708, when Woodes Rogers (English privateer and Governor of the Bahamas) used the word in his book, A Cruising Voyage Around the World.