![Two pilgrim women talking](https://plimoth.org//uploaded/imager/mainfileuploads/14819/two-pilgrim-women-talking_19f9318ac2643df011715b689a89949d.jpg)
Talk Like a Pilgrim
The Pilgrims talked a little differently than we do today. If you visit the Museum's 17th-Century English Village, you will 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 would have been used by the Pilgrims. Practice them at home and you could talk like a Pilgrim too!
Instead of "Hi, how are you?" the colonists might say:
- Good morrow
- How now?
- How do you fare?
- What cheer?
![Pilgrim woman with purple sage](https://plimoth.org//uploaded/imager/mainfileuploads/62297/pilgrim-woman-purple-sage_81fb531827652056324f99645e1554e8.jpg)
Instead of "Excuse me," the colonists might say:
- Pray pardon me
Instead of "Congratulations!" the colonists might say:
- Huzzah
Instead of "Fireplace," the colonists might say:
- Hearth
Instead of "Goodbye," the colonists might say:
- God bye to you
- Fare thee well
- Pray remember me
Instead of "Cat," the colonists might say:
- Mouser
![Pilgrim woman seated in yard of pilgrim house](https://plimoth.org//uploaded/imager/mainfileuploads/11408/pilgrim-woman-garden-summer-plymouth_81fb531827652056324f99645e1554e8.jpeg)
Instead of "Stew," the colonists might say:
- Pottage
Instead of "Pants," the colonists might say:
- Breeches
Instead of "Skirt," the colonists might say:
- Petticoat
Instead of "Backward," the colonists might say:
- Arsy varsy
Instead of "Pillowcase," the colonists might say:
- Pillowbere
Banner Image by Kathy Tarantola Photography