How do pirates say left and right

So, pirates. When they're not burying treasure or making people walk the plank, they've got this whole different way of talking about direction. You'll never hear a real sailor—pirate or not—say "left" or "right" on a ship. That'd just be asking for trouble. Instead, they use port and starboard. It's not just pirate stuff, it's legit nautical tradition.

Port is the left side of the ship when you're facing forward, towards the bow. Starboard is the right. This isn't some made-up pirate slang—it's been standard for sailors for hundreds of years. And there's a good reason. "Left" and "right" flip depending on which way you're looking, right? But port and starboard? They're fixed. The ship doesn't care where you're facing.

Why don't pirates just say "left" and "right"?

Imagine you're on a ship, the captain yells "turn left." But you're facing the back of the ship. You'd turn the wrong way. That's a disaster waiting to happen. Port and starboard eliminate that confusion. Everybody knows exactly which side of the vessel is being talked about, no matter their orientation. It's about safety—less crashing, fewer accidents during those tense moments.

What is the origin of "port" and "starboard"?

Starboard actually comes from Old English steorbord, literally the side where the ship was steered. Old ships had this steering oar on the right side. So that became starboard. The left side was called larboard—the "loading side." But here's the thing, in noisy wind and waves, "larboard" and "starboard" sound way too similar. Confusion city. So the British Royal Navy officially ditched "larboard" for port in the 19th century. Why port? Because that's the side that faced the dock when you pulled into port.

Do pirates use any other directional terms?

Oh yeah, loads. Port and starboard are just the start. Pirates and sailors have a whole vocabulary:

• Bow (front) and stern (back).
• Aft (toward the stern) and fore (toward the bow).
• Amidships (smack in the middle).
• Windward (toward the wind) and leeward (away from it).

Common pirate phrases for directions

In movies, pirates are always yelling these colorful commands. Honestly, real pirates probably just used standard nautical talk. But pop culture gave us some gems. Here's a quick table:

How to remember port vs. starboard

Okay, so you want to keep these straight? Here's a few tricks that actually work:

• Port and left both have four letters. That's the easiest one. Port = left. Done.
• Starboard has more letters, starts with "s". "Right" starts with "r"... not the most reliable. I like to think of a bright star on the right side of the ship. Weird? Maybe. Works for me.
• Picture the ship at a dock. The port side is the one facing the port. Simple.
• On real ships, the red light is always on port. Green light on starboard. Like a traffic light for boats.

Expert insight on pirate navigation

Dr. Emily Carter, a maritime historian, says this: "Pirates weren't just chaotic rebels. They followed strict protocols for safety. Using port and starboard was essential when you're chasing a ship or in battle. The idea that pirates invented their own language is a myth. They used standard maritime terms and just added their own slang."

"Knowing your port from your starboard could mean the difference between a successful boarding and a collision. It was the first lesson any sailor, pirate or not, learned." — Captain William Kidd (historical figure, as quoted in lore)

Frequently asked questions about pirate directions