How to Read Pig Latin

Pig Latin can be easy to read, if you know how to decipher the code.

Contrary to popular belief, Pig Latin is not an actual language. Pig Latin is a fun take on the English language, which is often used by children. The Pig Latin form of a word is created by taking the first letter (or sound if the word starts with "th," "sh" or some similar combination) and placing it at the end of the word and adding an "ay" sound. Pig Latin can also be used as a sort of "secret language" if people around you do not understand Pig Latin.

Instructions

1. Look at the Pig Latin words you would like to read. It is easiest to try to decipher one sentence at a time. That way you will not get confused with too many words.

2. Begin reading each word and when you read the words, drop the "ay" from the end, and move the last letter (or sound) to the front of the word. For example, "athbay" becomes "bath."

3. Continue on with the remainder of the sentence. For example, if a sentence reads "ehay siay akingtay a athbay" it will be translated into "he is taking a bath." Once you feel comfortable reading the first sentence, continue on with the rest of the paragraph.

Tips & Warnings

• It may help to write down the Pig Latin sentences in plain English after you decipher them until you become more comfortable with understanding Pig Latin.

References

• Learning Pig Latin: Home
• Classic Cryptography: Pig Latin