ahoy
word
/əˈhɔɪ/
uh-HOY
/ɐhˈɔɪ/
uh-HOY
Definition
A traditional call or greeting used by sailors to attract attention, especially when hailing a ship or boat; sometimes used playfully as a greeting.
Usage & Nuances
Very old-fashioned and nautical; rarely used in daily speech except jokingly or for dramatic effect. Common in pirate stories, nautical movies, and playful greetings ('Land ahoy!'). Not used in formal or serious contexts.
Spanish: ¡ahoy! - hola (náutico)Portuguese (BR): ahoy! - olá (náutico)Portuguese (PT): olá! (náutico) - ahoy!Chinese (Simplified): 喂！（船用招呼语）Chinese (Traditional): 喂！（船用招呼語）Hindi: अहोय! (समुद्री अभिवादन)Arabic: آهوي! (تحية بحرية)Bengali: আহয়Russian: ахойJapanese: アホイVietnamese: ahoyKorean: 아호이Turkish: ahoyUrdu: اہویIndonesian: ahoy
Example Sentences
Children said "Ahoy!" pretending to be pirates.
basic
When our boat got close, the captain called out, "Land ahoy!"
natural
He greeted his friends with a loud "Ahoy!" just for fun.
natural
You’ll hear "ahoy" a lot if you watch pirate movies.
natural
The sailor shouted, "Ahoy!" to the passing boat.
basic
They heard someone call "Ahoy!" from a distance.
basic