What are Nautical or Pirate Words Saying Welcome or Goodbye?

If a pirate wants to greet you, he won’t necessarily say “hello.” He might, though, very well say “Ahoy!” If, on the other hand, he’s taking leave, instead of goodbye you might hear a goodbye wish such as “Fair winds!” or “Godspeed!”

You might be surprised to hear it, but terms such as these aren’t just for fun: there is such a thing as a “pirate” language. Pirate words, also known as nautical slang, have been around for generations and are the product of years at sea. They’re not only used by pirates, of course, but by sailors, navy officers, and anyone who spends his life aboard a ship. These words have been in existence for so long that many of them, from “ahoy” to “booty” (for treasure) and “chantey” (for a sailor’s song) have made their way into the everyday English language.

As with many languages, there aren’t necessarily direct translations for greetings or farewells; thus the reason that there are multiple options for how to say things such as hello or goodbye. In general, the idea is that, upon greeting a person, a pirate or sailor will acknowledge his or her presence and make the person aware that he or she has been seen with an outcry like “ahoy” or “avast!”

When it comes time to part, on the other hand, the general idea is to wish the departing person well, and to hope he or she has a speedy, safe journey; hence the usage of “Fair winds” (meaning winds that will take the ship quickly to its destination), “Godspeed” (a wish for fast, safe travel), or “Fare thee well.”