How to Talk Like a Pirate

By Liz Smith

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Any pirate worth his salt needs to be able to talk the talk. To instantly become "pirate-like," just add "arrr!" at the end of your sentence -- it's the one thing EVERY pirate says. Here are 10 more words any scoundrel-in-training must master:

AVAST: A nautical term meaning "What's up?" or "What are you doing?"
Example: "Avast, me matey?"

PIECE OF EIGHT: Spanish silver coin, often cut into pieces to make change.
Example: "We be searching the high seas for Long John Silver's lost Pieces of Eight."

WALK THE PLANK: A dire punishment in which one must walk off a wooden board on the side of a ship and fall into the ocean.
Example: "The scurvy scoundrel stole me favorite pirate hat; I'm going to make him walk the plank!"

DOUBLOON: A gold coin minted by Spain or Spanish colonies, worth about seven weeks' pay for an average sailor.
Example: "I'll be saving my doubloons to buy me own pirate ship. Arrr!"

SHIVER ME TIMBERS!: An expression of surprise or fear.
Example: "Shiver me timbers! I just saw a ghost ship!"

SEA DOG: Experienced sailor.
Example: "Blackbeard is one famous sea dog."

JOLLY ROGER: The pirate flag with its skull and crossbones.
Example: "After looting the island, we left our Jolly Roger behind, flying high in the sky."

SCALLYWAG: Bad person.
Example: "Although Sir Francis Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, his fellow pirates thought he was quite a scallywag."

SEA ROVER: Pirate ship.
Example: "Look! On the horizon, there be a dozen sea rovers heading this way!"

ME HEARTY: My friend.
Example: "Ahoy, me hearty, will ye be helping me look for buried treasure?"