arr
Arr (intj) means an exclamation used to imitate the way pirates supposedly talk, often as a stand-in for "yes" or a growl of agreement. Example: “Arr, that be the captain's ship," the actor growled.”
How to use arr
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe classic cartoonish "pirate yes" — more a bit of costume-party fun than a real, everyday word.
Almost always used jokingly or in pirate-themed contexts, not in serious writing or speech.
Word forms
- Third person singular
- arrs
- Past tense
- arred
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
"_____, that be the captain's ship," the actor growled.
Etymology
The word grew out of a West Country English dialect pronunciation of "yes," but it became famous worldwide as stereotypical "pirate speak" after actor Robert Newton used it heavily playing Long John Silver and Blackbeard in 1950s films.