Did pirates actually say argh?
Probably not. Both that phrase and the accent that goes with it are strictly Hollywood. The pirate phrase “Arrrgh” appeared in film as early as 1934; a character also uses the phrase in a 1940 novel by Jeffrey Farnol.
| Aaaarrrrgggghhhh! | Pirate catch phrase of grumbling or disgust |
|---|---|
| Ahoy, Matey | Hello, my friend! |
| Ahoy, Me Hearties! | Hello, my friends, crew members, etc.; addressed to group |
| All Hands on Deck! | Everyone touch the deck! |
| Avast Ye | Pay attention and check this out! |
Ahoy, Me Hearties! All Hand Hoy! Everyone get on deck! Pay attention and check this out!
Shanties are songs that were sung by sailors and pirates as they sailed the seven seas, intended to keep the men both entertained and motivated during their long spells at sea. The word shanty is sometimes spelled “chanty” as it is derived from the French word “chanter,” which means to sing.
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.
The Origins of the Pirate Accent. Ask people to imitate a pirate, and they instinctually adopt the “pirate accent” immortalized in film and television. This unique brogue is renowned for it's strong “r” sound, as in “yarrr” and “arrrrr.”
Pronounced also as “Yarrr!” and “Arg!”, the word “Arrr!” is traditionally said by pirates when responding "yes" or when expressing excitement.
“Wherever we want to go, we'll go.”
Boats sink; they are burned on pyres; gold is elusive; almost everyone gets scurvy. The pirate motto promises “A merry life and a short one.” The second part frequently comes to pass; the first—as Mr Thomson's title implies—much less so.
May your ANCHOR be tight, Your CORK be loose, Your RUM be spiced, And your COMPASS be true.
What is the pirate oath?
Yea, they make a solemn oath to each other not to abscond, or conceal the least thing they find amongst the prey. If afterwards any one is found unfaithful, who has contravened the said oath, immediately he is separated and turned out of the society."
'Yo ho ho!'
- Pirate interjection expressing great joy.
"Shiver me timbers" (or "shiver my timbers" in Standard English) is an exclamation in the form of a mock oath usually attributed to the speech of pirates in works of fiction.
- 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!
In casual conversation the words pirate, buccaneer, and corsair tend to be used more or less interchangeably. Some people, possibly to prove they paid attention in history class, also throw around privateer.
So what does yo ho ho mean? Oxford Dictionaries define it as an archaic nautical term that seamen used while performing strenuous tasks such as hauling in heavy ropes.