Talk Like You Belong at the Renaissance Faire

If you travel to a Renaissance Faire this summer, you will find yourself transported back in time. These historical reenactment events are populated by myriad characters from the medieval and renaissance periods. They dress in costume, perform in shows, and talk like they belong back in the renaissance.

Even if you are just a one-day visitor to the fair, you too can talk like you belong at the renaissance faire.

Renaissance Faire Talk - Thee, Thine, Thou, and Thy

These renaissance words are not that hard to use during your fair experience. They are all replacements for the word ‘you’ and its associated words. Thee and Thou mean ‘you,’ and Thine and Thy mean ‘your.’

So, if you want to talk like you belong at the Renaissance Faire, you could say, “Thine eyes are lovely,” to an attractive wench, or “Thou art a strapping lad,” to a muscular pickle vendor.

Renaissance Faire Talk - Yay or Nay

Almost anyone will recongize these renaissance faire ways of saying ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ Yay is pronounced like ‘aye.’(I) Both of these words can be used as an exclaimation or in a simple sentence. “Yay, I know him.” Or “Nay, my bodice is not too tight.”

Renaissance Faire Talk - What to Call People

In the renaissance times, it was sometimes difficult to tell the middle class from the nobility. It is safe, therefore, to address all men as ‘Sir,’ and all women as ‘Mistress.’ If you know that the woman to whom you are speaking is married, you should call her ‘Madame.’

Nobility should always be addressed as ‘My Lord’ and ‘My Lady,’ and royalty as ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘Your Grace.’

Renaissance Faire Talk - Greetings and Goodbyes

When you first arrive at the Renaissance Faire, you will most likely be greeted by a troup of costumed actors shouting out ‘Good morrow’ and ‘Good day.’ If you arrive in the evening, that phrase would be changed to ‘Good Even.’ When you leave the fair, you will hear ‘Fair thee well’ or, if it is still early, ‘Tarry a while’ which tells you to stay for a longer time.

Renaissance Faire Talk - What to Do With Verbs?

If you want to do a quick change in order to talk like you belong at the renaissance faire, you could add ‘do’ or ‘be’ in front of many of your verbs. For example, a young man might say “If ye do fetch me an ale, I shall love thee forever” to a comely barmaid. She may reply, “You be a fool, sir. Do ye think me a strumpet?”

Renaissance Faire Talk - Special Ren Faire Vocabulary

Learning a few extra words will help you talk like you belong at the renaissance faire. You should always remember that the ‘privy’ is the bathroom, and a “Fie!’ is an expression of disgust or disdain. ‘God’s wounds’ (or Zounds) and ‘God’s teeth’ are popular curses at the renaissance faire. And, whenever you are particularly impressed by something going on, you should always shout “Huzzah!”