Friday, July 3, 2009
Pirate Talk 101: Second Part - Commands
Today, we will review Commands. A command is an authoritative direction or instruction to do something. Below are various parts to build and respond a command. They include pre-command phrases, command responses, negative command phrases and a few of the nasic ship commands.
| Pirate | Translation |
| Phrases before a command | |
| Be so good to | You had better / Please |
| I’ll thank you to | You had better |
| There’s a good lad | That’s a good boy |
| You best be | You should be |
| Phrases after a command | |
| If you please | Please |
| Negative Commands | |
| Don’t be <verb>ing | Do not <verb> |
| He that <verb phrase> makes an enemy of me | If you <verb phrase>, I will be your enemy. |
| There will no | You will not |
| Command Openers | |
| Here now | Pay attention |
| Mind you | Bear in mind |
| Command Closers | |
| And lively | Hurry |
| And look sharp about it | Act like you like it |
| Say I | I said |
| Command Responses | |
| As you say | I’ll do as you say |
| Aye Cap’n | Yes Captain |
| Very well | Alright. |
| General Commands | |
| About ship | Turn around |
| Aft here | Come back here |
| Avast and likewise belay | STOP! |
| Away with | Go away |
| Batten down your hatches | Shut up |
| Be comforted | Cheer up |
| Be easy | Calm down |
| Be seen and not heard | Shut up |
| Be warned | Be careful |
| Belay | Stop |
| Bend you ear to this | Listen |
| Clap a stopper on your eyes | Stop crying |
| Clear the turn and run him up | Hang him |
| Come hither | Come here |
| Don’t stir either hand or foot | Don’t move an inch |
| Give way | Get out of the way |
| Heave ahead | Let’s go / Keep going / Move on |
| Hold | Stop / Wait |
| Hold Fast | Stop right there |
| Keep a weather eye open | Keep a close watch |
| Lay your back into it | Put your back into it |
| Let’s to it | Let’s go for it |
| Look at the cut of you | Take a look at yourself |
| Make Haste | Hurry up |
| Make you ready | Get Ready |
| Never say it | Watch your tongue |
| Never you mind | Never mind |
| No more of that | Drop the subject / Stop talking |
| Not a word | Keep quiet |
| Off with you | Go away |
| Put a name on what you’re at | Say what you have to say |
| Remove yourself | Go away |
| Set yourself down | Sit down |
| Show no quarter | Show no mercy |
| Speak of it later | We’ll talk about this later |
| Stand ready | Get ready |
| Steady | Relax; Take it easy |
| Stow that | Forget that / Shut your mouth |
| Think on it | Think about it |
| What you will | Do whatever you want |
| Ship Commands | |
| Go About | Turn around |
| Hard a-larboard / Hard to Larboard | Hard turn to the left |
| Hard a-port / Hard to port | Hard turn to the left |
| Hard Alee / Helms Alee | Hard to leeward (away from the wind) |
| Hard a-starboard / Hard to Starboard | Hard turn to the right |
| Keep her so / Keep her steady | Maintain present heading |
| Lay a course for | Prepare to go |
| Make Speed | Increase velocity |
| So | Just like that |
This primer was summarized from the book "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas and available here.
2 comments:
What's the proper terminology for "Kill Powdermonkey?"
One possability would be....
"As sure as God sees me, I'll be death for that half-masted Powdermonkey, be sure of that!"
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