Pirate Speak Translator

Where pirate speak comes from

Here is the surprise: real pirates almost certainly did not talk like this. The "Arr" we all know was popularised by a 1950 adventure film, where the lead actor borrowed the accent of his native West Country in southwest England and leaned hard on it. The rest of the world copied him, and pirate speak became its own thing.

That is why this pirate translator is built for fun rather than history. It takes ahoy, matey, landlubber and aye, mixes in some old nautical words, and drops the g off the end of everything it can.

How to translate English to pirate speak

Write a sentence of up to 200 characters, choose Pirate Speak and press Translate. You get the pirate version, a short note on which words were swapped, and a pronunciation guide. The speaker button reads it back so you can practise the growl.

Each translation is written fresh, so if you want a different take, press the button again. Sentences about food, money, the weather or your commute usually give the funniest results.

When to use it

The big date is International Talk Like a Pirate Day on 19 September, which two friends in Oregon invented as a joke in 1995. It also works for party invitations, kids’ games, team banter and greeting cards. If you want something with more invented words, try the fictional languages next.

Phrases to try in Pirate Speak

• Hello my friends, welcome to the party.Try it
• Where is the nearest place to eat lunch?Try it
• I found some money in my old jacket.Try it
• Please be quiet, the baby is asleep.Try it
• We are going on holiday by the sea.Try it

Questions about the Pirate Speak translator

Learn more about pirate speak

• International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Wikipedia)