What Is Pig Latin—And What Does It Have to Do With Pigs?

While this may sound a bit contradictory, Pig Latin isn’t Latin, and it’s also not quite a language. Common Pig Latin Word/Phrase Translation Ellohay “Hello” Ixnay on the upidstay “Nix the stupid” Ankthay ouyay “Thank you” Ancay ouyay peaksay igpay atinlay? The name “Pig Latin” shows up in the 1800s, when it often meant any jokey, fake Latin. Pig Latin is practically a childhood rite of passage in the United States, and there are still online translators if you’re rusty. While Pig Latin isn’t a “real language” in the formal sense, that’s sort of beside the point.