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• pig Latin
  pig Latin

  noun

  a form of language, used especially by children, that is derived from ordinary English by moving the first consonant or consonant cluster of each word to the end of the word and adding the sound (ā), as in eakspay igpay atinlay for “speak pig Latin.”
• Pig Latin
  Pig Latin

  noun

  a secret language used by children in which any consonants at the beginning of a word are placed at the end, followed by -ay; for example cathedral becomes athedralcay

pig Latin

American  

[pig lat-n] / ˈpɪg ˈlæt n /

Or Pig Latin

noun

1. a form of language, used especially by children, that is derived from ordinary English by moving the first consonant or consonant cluster of each word to the end of the word and adding the sound (ā), as in eakspay igpay atinlay for “speak pig Latin.”

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Pig Latin British  

noun

1. a secret language used by children in which any consonants at the beginning of a word are placed at the end, followed by -ay; for example cathedral becomes athedralcay

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Etymology

Origin of pig Latin

First recorded in 1840–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pig Latin Pig Latin

It’s likely that most audience members will understand “vile rat astard-bay” without resorting to a dictionary because pig Latin is still a living language.

From New York Times ● May 22, 2024

We use names, frontward, backward, in pig Latin.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 22, 2022

Richards jumped in: “Ix-nay on the ose-nay,” he allegedly said, speaking pig Latin.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 19, 2021

The revelations from Richards' old podcast raise a number of questions, including, among others, what an adult man was doing speaking pig Latin.

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2021

He stared at me like I’d just spoken in pig Latin.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

In this joke about a teacher and student, you get English, Pig Latin, and French.

From Salon ● Nov. 8, 2021

Sample: “When talking on the jail phone, Pig Latin is not an unbreakable code.”

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 19, 2018

Simlish isn’t a conlang; whatever Furbies are doing isn’t a conlang; the Minions aren’t speaking a conlang; Pig Latin isn’t a conlang.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2015

You’ve heard of Pig Latin, now have fun with Snake Latin!

From New York Times ● May 17, 2010

I thought that my brother and his friends had created Pig Latin.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou