How it all began
In 1995, Americans John Baur and Mark Summers were playing racquetball, a type of squash. One of them apparently sustained an injury whilst playing and let out a drawn-out “Arrr”. Instead of returning to speaking normally after the match, the friends carried on. Good shots became barrages, and their opponent became a ‘mate’.
Baur and Summers decided that once a year, everyone should be allowed to speak pirate – or be obliged to, if the Captain orders it. The two christened themselves Ol’ Chumbucket and Cap’n Slappy. At least, that’s the “Legend” on its origins ‘Talk Like a Pirate Day’. They chose 19 September, the birthday of Summers’ then ex-wife. No further explanation – they simply thought it was easy to remember. And so the date stuck to the calendar like tar to an anchor chain.
The internet did the rest
At first, the “public holiday” remained a small, private affair. Baur and Summers phoned each other, shouted “Arrr!” into the receiver and hung up again. It was not until 2002 that they sent the idea to the US humour columnist Dave Barry. He, in turn, dedicated an article to the day on 14 September 2002, Column in the Washington Post and immediately declared his support: “Talking like a pirate will add a touch of romance and danger to your everyday conversations.” (“Speaking like a pirate will add a touch of romance and danger to your everyday communication.”). Since then, the International Talk Like a Pirate Day celebrated every year on 19 September. The internet did the rest. Costumes, office parties, radio messages and countless cries of ‘Ahoy, you dogs!’ turned the joke into a recurring maritime pop culture event.
Speaking of jokes: Pirate Day isn’t just about eye patches and parrots, but also jokes that are usually based on the most far-fetched sailor clichés. Fancy an example? “What does a pirate do in an office? – He presses the ‘Enter’ key.” Or: “Why don’t pirates cry? – They howl rum.”
But did pirates really speak like that?
Well, arrr … not really. The typical pirate vocabulary, with phrases like ‘Walk the plank’ and ‘Shiver me timbers’, is primarily a product of popular culture. The cliché was particularly popularised by the actor Robert Newton, who played Long John Silver in the Disney film adaptation of Treasure Island (Treasure Island) in 1950. His performance, delivered in a thick West Country accent, became the model for the pirate speech we recognise today from films and books. A linguist at the University of Southampton points out that the stereotypical ‘Arrr’ is reminiscent of English dialects from the West Country.
It is difficult to piece together exactly how 17th- and 18th-century pirates actually spoke to one another. They came from different countries and social backgrounds. It is highly unlikely that there was a single ‘pirate dialect’.
So anyone who, on 19 September, nevertheless calls out “Ahoy, matey” to the group is following the tradition of the stage, cinema and literature rather than the history of seafaring. Incidentally, the famous verse about the fifteen men and the dead man’s chest – which many immediately associate with buccaneers – also comes from Robert Louis Stevenson’s *Treasure Island*. Our article on Rum and its seafaring myths explains what the ‘jar full of rum’ is all about.
'Talking the plank' and the Jolly Roger on board
So what’s the deal with pirate talk on board? Ay, as long as things remain clear. When setting sail, during manoeuvres and, above all, in an emergency, clear announcements naturally take precedence. For the rest of the day, however, the rule is: an ‘Ahoy’ does no harm, and a parrot on your shoulder probably won’t either. It’s just that when it comes to rum, it’s best not to take the role-play too seriously.
By the way: the Jolly Roger is not an official flag. Whilst it is a familiar sight in harbours, it should not be flown in place of the national flag, nor in any location where it might be mistaken for an official signal. If flown at all, it should be hoisted on the port forestay. And it has no place at sea. If you’d like to know which flags belong where – and when what starts as a bit of fun can turn into a costly mistake – you’ll find the most important rules on flag display here: “Common mistakes when flying the flag”.
And for those who prefer a sword under the hull rather than a cutlass in their hand: the traditional youth dinghy “Pirate” Incidentally, it has borne her name since a YACHT competition held in the late 1930s.
Book recommendations
Maritime Myths leads to ghost ships, sailing wrecks and vanished crews. Joslan F. Keller combines historical research with the legends that surround these tales. The 30 stories and illustrations provide plenty of material for seafaring tall tales.
Pearls of the Pacific tells the story of Niccolò Banfí’s journeys to remote islands in the Pacific. It focuses on long stretches of calm and storm, encounters on land and the fascination of the open sea. The book is due to be published on 24 September 2026 and is already available for pre-order.
Do you know any other good pirate jokes? Post them in the comments.
Jill Grigoleit
Editor Travel