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

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

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

I’m not sure how you could “James-proof” “Jeopardy!” — maybe, just maybe, if the clues were all in pig Latin, it would slow him down.

From Washington Post • Jun. 2, 2019

They sit in the back seat—my brother no longer gets carsick—and talk in pig Latin.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood