International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a parodic holiday created in 1995 by John Baur and Mark Summers of Albany, Oregon, who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate. But our very own Dave Barry played his hand in it becoming the sensation it is! Click here for the Dave Barry article that started this global craze! And a little history to boot.
Ahoy! Want to try your hand at some fun, matey?
Arrrrrre you ready?
Here:
Here are some nautical pirate phrases to help you get into character easier:
- bilge rat – an insult referring to a rat that lives in the worst place on the ship – the bilge
- landlubber – a person unfamiliar with the sea or sailing
- avast – stop; cease and pay attention
- shiver me timbers – expresses shock, surprise or annoyance
- ahoy – hello
- aye – yes
- aye aye – used by sailors to confirm they understood the orders
- matey – a companion, a close friend
- booty – treasure
- buccaneer – pirate or free sailor known in the Caribbean Sea during the 17th and 18th centuries
- feed the fish – about to die
- Jacob’s ladder – a rope ladder
- old salt – experienced pirate
- walk the plank – force someone to walk off a plank on a ship; to accept the consequences
- lad, lass, lassie – a younger person
- bucko – friend
- cat o’nine tails – a whip with nine strands
- dead men tell no tales – leave no survivors
- yo-ho-ho – an expression of delight
- weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen! – pull up the anchor and get the ship sailing