Talk like a "Pilgrim"

"Good Morrow"

"How Do You Fare?"

The English Colonists at Plymouth (many people call them “Pilgrims” today) talked a little differently than we do today. If you visit our 1627 English Village here at the museum, you might notice that the townspeople say words you know in a funny way, or even say some words you don't know at all! That's because they are speaking in 17th-century English, not 21st-century modern English. Here are a few examples of English words, greetings and phrases that might be used back then. Practice them at home and you could talk like a Pilgrim too!


Instead of “Hi, how are you?” the colonists might say:

"Good morrow"   Press

to listen

"How now?"   Press

to listen

"How do you fare?"   Press

to listen

"What cheer?"   Press

to listen

Instead of “Excuse me,” the colonists might say:

"Pray pardon me"   Press

to listen

Instead of “Congratulations!” the colonists might say:

"Huzzah!"   Press

to listen

Instead of “goodbye,” the colonists might say:

"God bye to you"   Press

to listen

"Fare thee well"   Press

to listen

"Pray remember me"   Press

to listen

Some more “new” words from old English:

Instead of fireplace, say "hearth"   Press

to listen

Instead of cat, say "mouser"   Press

to listen

Instead of stew or porridge, say "pottage"   Press

to listen

Instead of pants, say "breeches"   Press

to listen

Instead of skirt, say "petticoat"   Press

to listen

Instead of backward, say "arsy varsy"   Press

to listen

Instead of pillowcase, say "pillowbere"   Press

to listen

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