Ahoy matey!
Have ye ever wondered how pirates bid each other farewell when setting sail or parting ways after revelry in a seaside tavern? As a fellow pirate enthusiast, I bet you‘ve noticed how pop culture portrays pirates as speaking in the same stereotypical voice and vernacular. But in truth, the real seafaring pirates of the 18th-century Golden Age developed a rich lexicon of slang terms, greetings, and sayings all their own!
In this guide, I‘ll be your trusty first mate and explore the traditional pirate way to say goodbye. We‘ll hoist the mizzen and uncover the meanings behind common pirate farewells, greetings, and exclamations so you can sound like an authentic swashbuckler. I‘ll also share notable quotes and toasts pirates used to wish their mates well on voyages or adventures.
So batten down the hatches and prepare to learn proper pirate speak from a true aficionado of maritime history and scallywag culture!
The Pirate Goodbye – Farewells for Scoundrels
Here are some of the most popular ways that pirates bid each other goodbye before heading out to sea:
Fair Winds
One of the most common pirate farewells was wishing someone "fair winds" before a journey. This is a reference to hoping that the winds would be optimal for smooth sailing without nasty storms or becalming.
The phrase "fair winds and following seas" was a blessing for safety, good speed, and an easy passage – everything a captain would want when navigating the perilous open ocean!
Godspeed
"Godspeed" was a very common farewell, not just among pirates but dating back centuries among English speakers in general. It expresses wishing someone well on their travels and literally translates to "may God cause you to succeed."
It‘s the root of the word goodbye, which originated from the old phrase "God be with ye." I find it interesting that even grizzled, heathen pirates used this religious term!
Safe Voyage
Pirates often wished each other a "safe voyage" or "safe passage", hoping their comrades would be protected from storms, shoals, enemy ships and other hazards at sea as they set out on the open ocean.
Of course, safety was a relative term for a pirate – any long journey on a rickety wooden ship was treacherous. But one could hope for the best fortune when saying farewell to shipmates.
Smooth Seas
Wishing someone "smooth seas" meant hoping they would have calm waters and an easy sailing experience without tumultuous waves or wind. This tied into bidding someone "fair winds and following seas."
Smooth seas definitely made life easier for pirates, especially if they were already suffering from too much grog the night before! Pitching decks weren‘t pleasant with a hangover.
Clear Skies
Pirates frequently wished each other "clear skies" before a journey, hoping for sunny, cloudless weather perfect for navigating by the stars and spotting potential prizes on the horizon from the crow‘s nest.
Foul weather could completely doom a voyage and leave the ship blown off course. So clear skies were truly vital for any pirate captain getting ready to set sail.
Fare Thee Well
The elegant phrase "fare thee well" was a polite, formal goodbye that pirates used just like other English speakers at the time. It wished the listener well as they journeyed forth into the unknown.
I always think of this as an uppercase goodbye – Fare Thee Well – since it has a poetic, almost regal ring to it. Not bad for a scurvy band of rogues!
May the Wind Be at Your Back
This poetic pirate blessing hoped that the winds would be in someone‘s favor as they sailed – specifically blowing from behind to fill the sails. Having the wind behind you provided the fastest and smoothest sailing experience, so pirates wished this fortune upon comrades preparing to set out. What a nice sentiment!
Pirate Greetings & Sayings to Splice the Mainbrace To
When pirates returned from long voyages or ran into each other while embroiled in port debauchery, what were some of the typical terms they exchanged?
Ahoy / Avast
"Ahoy" is one of the most iconic pirate words, used as a greeting or to get someone‘s attention. "Avast" means stop or pay attention – great for capturing a drinking buddy‘s focus.
Aye Aye
"Aye aye" is used to acknowledge an order, conveying "yes, I understand." You‘d respond "aye aye, captain!" when your pirate captain gives a command.
Aye / Nay
Simple "aye" for yes or "nay" for no – these classic terms are still used today and seem to be universal verbal shortcuts.
Savvy?
To ask "savvy?" means "do you understand?" Pirates often said this after giving instructions or information to confirm that the message was clear.
Drink Up Me Hearties, Yo Ho!
This rowdy phrase encourages comrades to drink up before sailing out for adventure and plunder. It‘s a call for carousing, made famous by the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies and theme park ride. But I bet real pirates sang it like a sea shanty!
Scuttle Me Eyes / Shiver Me Timbers
These expressions convey surprise or emphasize a point, like saying "can you believe it?!" Scuttle me eyes relates to gouging out someone‘s eyeballs in shock. Violent, I know!
Ye Filthy Bilge Rat!
What a mean insult, accusing someone of laying about in the nastiest part of the ship. Bilge rats in scummy ship water = bad hygiene.
Me Hearty / Matey
Pirates affectionately called each other "me hearty" or "matey", with "mate" meaning friend or comrade. These seem like the most welcoming pirate terms.
Lad / Lass
"Lad" and "lass" acknowledged men and women aboard ships. Pirates did occasionally include women, contra popular belief. Anne Bonny and Mary Read both famously dressed as men for piracy.
Hornpipe!
Pirates cheered "hornpipe" to call for a lively sailor‘s dance, often accompanied by rum-fueled merriment. I‘d love to dance a jig to a pirate shanty!
Splice the Mainbrace!
This command meant to distribute an extra rum ration, generally to celebrate an accomplishment or special occasion. Pirates loved their grog, so any excuse to drink was met with glee!
Toasts for Grog – Wishes for the Voyage
When drinking together before setting off on some high seas hijinks, pirates made various toasts wishing each other fortune and success:
- May our paths cross again soon, should fair winds blow and warm taverns call to port.
- Here‘s to refilling our cups together when the tide turns round again!
- To fair winds blowing and fine plunder flowing!
- May your voyages be worthy of legend and song, and your stories be long retold over rum by all you meet!
- Here‘s to the brotherhood of free men upon the waves, bonded in the pursuit of destiny!
- To treasures beyond our wildest dreams and the cunning it takes to grasp them!
- Good health to all who dare live unconquered, and good cheer until we meet again!
I think these well-wishes reflect the pirate community‘s spirit of optimism and faith in providence guiding the adventures set forth by crews of roguish misfits and outcasts. They dreamed big and dared mighty deeds.
Wise Words From Legendary Pirates
Real pirates sure had a way with words when it came to expressing their ideals and wisdom gained from life at sea. Here are some rousing quotes:
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"A merry life and a short one shall be my motto." – Bartholomew "Black Bart" Roberts
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"Better to die young and strong than old and sick." – Edward "Ned" Low
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“Money can‘t buy happiness, but it‘s much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle” – Modern "pirate" Captain Eduardo Neira Silva
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“Drink up me hearties, Yo Ho!” – Fictional pirate song in Pirates of the Caribbean
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"In an honest service there is thin commons, low wages, and hard labour. In piracy, plenty and satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty and power. Who would not balance creditor on this side when all the hazard that is run for it at worst is only a sour look or two at choking? No, a merry life and a short one shall be my motto." – Bartholomew "Black Bart" Roberts
Such quotes truly encapsulate the pirate spirit – thirst for riches and rebellion against the status quo, with loyalty to comrades but little care for the rules of prudish society on shore.
For adventurous men trapped in rigid cultures or institutions in the 18th century, piracy represented the ultimate freedom and self-determination. Who could resist the call of treasure, infamy, and a boundless horizon!
The Pirate Life Lingers On
Though the Golden Age of Piracy ended over 300 years ago, pirates continue capturing the public imagination in books and movies. Certain phrases have become ingrained in everyday language:
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Arrr! – The stereotypical pirate growl to emphasize a point.
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X marks the spot – Where pirate treasure is buried on a map.
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Shiver me timbers! – An exclamation of surprise.
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Ye be walking the plank! – Forcing someone to fall into the sea (a myth mostly created by fiction writes).
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Davy Jones‘ locker – Sailing lingo for death at sea or the bottom of the ocean.
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Pieces of eight – Eighteenth century Spanish coins prized as pirate plunder.
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Dead men tell no tales – If you kill a pirate, the secret of their hidden riches dies too.
So even landlubbers can talk like Long John Silver! Just throw some "Ayees", "Avasts" and "Mateys" into your vocabulary for International Talk Like a Pirate Day. And if questioned, remember the pirate code demands that you respond "Arrrrgh!" before carrying on.
Statistics on Pirate History & Culture
To give you a better picture of the fascinating reality of piracy throughout history, here are some key statistics:
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Between 1650 and 1730, the "Golden Age of Piracy", there were approximately 3,000 active pirates across the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. That‘s a lot of scallywags! [1]
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Pirates came from all walks of life – ex-sailors, captives, craftsmen, runaway slaves, clergymen, and noblemen alike turned to piracy as a way to get ahead. [2]
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The most successful pirates could earn the equivalent of 50 years or wages with just one big plunder. No wonder it was tempting to turn rogue! [3]
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Women made up approximately 10-30% of pirates during the Golden Age by disguising themselves as men. Famous examples include Anne Bonny and Mary Read. [4]
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The busiest pirate ports included Nassau in the Bahamas, Port Royal in Jamaica, and Tortuga in Haiti. Port Royal had a population that was 50% pirates at one point! [5]
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The most popular pirates flags featured imagery like hourglasses, bleeding hearts, skeletons, and speared hearts – all symbolizing limited time and mortality. [6]
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While marooned pirates did get left on deserted islands or remote coasts as punishment, the buried treasure trope is largely fictional – most pirates spent their booty quickly on drinking, gambling and partying. [7]
So while pop culture does exaggerate some pirate tropes, the real history is just as thrilling and fascinating! Piracy was obviously a huge enterprise during its peak eras. And major ports essentially embraced pirates for the money they brought in, despite official condemnation.
Parting Words for Fellow Pirate Enthusiasts
Whether you‘re a historian of maritime mischief or just an amateur pirate linguist enchanted by the unique culture, I hope this guide has shed light on how pirates bid each other farewell and wished safe journeys.
From blessings of fair winds to foreboding oaths of buried riches, the salty vernacular and words of wisdom passed between pirates reflected the singular life they chose at sea amid danger and uncertainty. While often cutthroat in discipline, they developed an unspoken code of loyalty and community.
If we meet again one foggy night in a dockside tavern, be sure to wish me well in true pirate fashion before I sail with the morning tide. I‘ll be looking forward to hoisting a mug and saying "yo ho!" once more!
May your voyages lead you to warm sands, clear skies, and friendships true as ballast against the storms we all sail through. Take what bearings you can by the stars and chart your own course toward horizons unknown. There will always be ports aplenty for those with wild hearts and open eyes.
Farewell and adieu, my friend, until we meet again!
Your fellow pirate enthusiast,
Captain W.J. Hendricks
