Translate English to Pig Latin — and back again
This Pig Latin translator turns ordinary English into Pig Latin — hello becomes ellohay, apple becomes appleway — while keeping your capital letters, punctuation, apostrophes and hyphens where they belong. It also decodes Pig Latin back into English, and includes two other playground language games: Ubbi Dubbi and Gibberish.
Pig Latin is a word game rather than a real language, which makes it a fun way to explore how words are built from sounds. Children use it as a secret code, teachers use it to practise vowels and consonant blends, and parents use it to talk over small heads. Writers and puzzle makers use it for jokes and riddles.
The translation happens instantly in your browser, and nothing you type is sent anywhere.
How to use the Pig Latin Translator
- Choose Pig Latin, Ubbi Dubbi or Gibberish, and Encode or Decode.
- Type or paste your text. The translation appears as you type.
- For Pig Latin, choose the ending for words that start with a vowel (-way, -yay, -hay or -ay) and whether “y” and “qu” follow the usual special rules.
- Press Copy to copy the result, or Swap to decode it straight back and check it.
Pig Latin Translator features
Standard Pig Latin rules
Words starting with consonants move the whole consonant group: string → ingstray; vowel-initial words add an ending: apple → appleway.
Handles real text
Capitals (Hello → Ellohay, NASA → ASANAY), punctuation, contractions such as don’t and hyphenated words are all kept intact.
The tricky cases
“qu” stays together (queen → eenquay), y acts as a consonant at the start (yellow → ellowyay) and as a vowel inside a word (rhythm → ythmrhay).
Decoder
Turns Pig Latin back into English with a best-guess rule for where the moved consonants came from.
Two more games
Ubbi Dubbi adds “ub” before each vowel sound (hubellubo); Gibberish adds “idig” (hidigellidigo).
Pig Latin rules with examples
| Rule | English | Pig Latin |
|---|---|---|
| One consonant at the start: move it, add “ay” | pig | igpay |
| Consonant cluster: move the whole group | string | ingstray |
| Starts with a vowel: add “way” | apple | appleway |
| “qu” moves as one unit | queen | eenquay |
| “y” at the start is a consonant | yellow | ellowyay |
| “y” inside a word acts as a vowel | rhythm | ythmrhay |
Why decoding is a best guess
Encoding throws information away. “Ellohay” could come from hello (move the h back) or from lohel, and “eatay” could be teat or eat with a -tay ending. The decoder assumes the whole consonant group before “-ay” moved, which is right for almost all ordinary words. Matching the vowel ending you used when encoding (for example -way) also helps it recognise words that started with a vowel.
If you enjoy word games, try the Leetspeak Converter, the Upside Down Text generator or the Reverse Text tool.
Pig Latin Translator FAQ
How do you speak Pig Latin?
Take the consonant sound at the start of each word, move it to the end and add “ay”: pig latin becomes igpay atinlay. If a word starts with a vowel, just add “way”: eat becomes eatway.
What is “hello” in Pig Latin?
“Ellohay”. The h moves to the end and “ay” is added.
Is it “appleway” or “appleyay”?
Both are used. Different regions and families use -way, -yay, -hay or plain -ay for words that start with a vowel; pick your favourite in the options.
What is Ubbi Dubbi?
A language game made famous by children’s television in which “ub” goes before every vowel sound: “hello” becomes “hubellubo”.
Can this Pig Latin translator decode text?
Yes. Switch to Decode and paste Pig Latin. Because some words can be decoded more than one way, check any word that looks odd.
Where does Pig Latin come from?
Nobody knows exactly. Language games that move or add sounds have been recorded in English since at least the 19th century, and the name “Pig Latin” was used for several different games before the move-the-consonant version became the standard one in the 20th century. Similar games exist in many languages, such as Verlan in French.
Can I use it to hide messages?
Only from people who do not know the game. Pig Latin, Ubbi Dubbi and Gibberish are easy to learn and easy to decode, so treat them as fun, not as encryption.
Is my text saved?
No. The translator runs in your browser and does not store anything.