Avast, me hearties! Talk Like a Pirate Day is coming!

It sometimes seems like we are surrounded by stress and negativity. That’s why sometimes it’s important to do something fun and, yes, silly. Mark Summers and John Baur, whose pirate names are Cap’n Slappy and Ol’ Chumbucket, created Talk Like a Pirate Day with that purpose in mind: fun and silliness.

September 19, 2017 will be the fifteenth annual International Talk Like a Pirate day, created by two men from Albany, Oregon. Talk Like a Pirate Day has been celebrated “on all seven continents … the south Pole and on the International Space Station” according to their official press release. With events planned in England and in South Korea, as well as around the United States, Talk Like a Pirate Day remains popular across the world.

In today’s increasingly-complex world, sometimes it feels good to do something simple. Talk Like a Pirate Day offers a fun escape from the day-to-day routine. The rules of the day, such as they are, are simple: talk like a pirate and have fun!

Like so many unofficial holidays, Talk Like a Pirate Day is just a little bizarre, and definitely far from the norm. In that spirit, this Sept. 19, let’s all talk like a pirate, have some fun, and forget a little of our troubles for the day. Just try not to do it in speech class.

How to Talk Like a Pirate

It’s pretty easy to learn how to talk like a pirate. First, drop the “g”s at the end of words. Running becomes “runnin’,” pillaging” becomes “pillagin’,” and so forth. Second, use “ye” instead of “you;” use “be” instead of “is” or “are;” and use “me” instead of “my.” For example, “Ye be fixin’ to walk the plank, me bucko.” Third, speak with confidence and enthusiasm. Pirates don’t mutter, and they aren’t shy. Finally, learn and properly use some pirate words and phrases. Here are some of the more commonly used words and phrases:

• “Avast” means “Pay attention”
• “Ahoy” means “Hello”
• “Aye” means “I agree” or “Yes”
• “Aye Aye” – “I’ll do that right away”
• “Arr” is a good, all-purpose word that can mean almost anything based on inflection and context: “Yes,” “I’m Happy,” “The WolfPack is winning!,” “The WolfPack is Losing,” “I am here and alive,” “Get back to work”
• “Savvy?” seems to mean “Do you understand?” but many more traditional pirates won’t acknowledge this phrase.
• “Shiver Me Timbers” is an expression of surprise and fear.
• “Matey” is a friend or crewmate. “Me Hearties” has a similar meaning.