Savvy

Captain Jack Sparrow, as portrayed by Johnny Depp, says the line "Savvy" to Captain Barbossa in The Curse of the Black Pearl.

"Son, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow. Savvy?"

―Jack Sparrow to Gillette

"Savvy" is a popular word in Pirates of the Caribbean media, largely associated with the character Captain Jack Sparrow. A term used as a synonym for "wisdom" or "understanding", it is derived from the Portuguese sabe ("knows") and the Latin sapere ("to be wise"). Savviness relates to practical understanding, shrewdness or intelligence. The word "savvy" was commonly used by Jack Sparrow, often as a question, in which context the word was thought to mean "Understand?" or "Get it?"

It was first uttered by the character several times in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, spoken to Lieutenant Gillette, Will Turner, Joshamee Gibbs, and Hector Barbossa. Following The Curse of the Black Pearl, the word has since repeated usage over time as a running gag or as a catchphrase spoken by Sparrow himself. The word has been referenced in multiple pieces of expanded media, including but not limited to books like Rob Kidd's Jack Sparrow and Legends of the Brethren Court series, video games like the Kingdom Hearts series and LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game. Characters other than Sparrow have also uttered the word, including Edward Teague in The Price of Freedom and Henry Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Appearances in Pirates of the Caribbean

Films

"No. You want you to find this...because the finding of this finds you incapacitorially finding and/or locating in your discovering the detecting of a way to save your dolly belle, ol' what's-her-face. Savvy?"

―Jack Sparrow

"Savvy" is said for the first time in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

The first instance of the phrase in Pirates of the Caribbean canon is in the 2003 film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. In the film, Captain Jack Sparrow says the word to Lieutenant Gillette after the latter insulted the former's attempt to take over the HMS Dauntless; to Will Turner about "what a man can (can't) do" and the "sweet, proliferous bouquet" that was Tortuga; to Joshamee Gibbs about Will being Bootstrap Bill Turner's only child; as well as during his negotiations with Hector Barbossa in the captain's cabin aboard the Black Pearl and the treasure caves of Isla de Muerta.

"Savvy" said as the last line in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

It was at this instance that the word grew in popularity, sparking its usage in the sequels. In Dead Man's Chest, Jack Sparrow used "savvy" while he was chief of the Pelegostos Tribe, and later to Will Turner in regards of helping him save Elizabeth Swann through finding the key to the Dead Man's Chest. The word saw a single usage in At World's End, in which Jack said "savvy" to Scarlett and Giselle after realizing that his ship was once again gone, stolen again by Captain Hector Barbossa, which resulted in the two wenches slapping Sparrow in the face. In On Stranger Tides, Jack Sparrow said it to the missionary Philip Swift upon suggesting that the former would go to Heaven if things did not go well for him. Later, Jack said it to Joshamee Gibbs after explaining why he didn't use the Fountain of Youth, saying "It's a pirate's life for me. Savvy?" which served as the final line of the film. In Dead Men Tell No Tales, when giving a seemingly-smitten Henry Turner advice about courting Carina Smyth, Jack suggested "never pursue her sister. But if you cannot avoid the charm of her sister... kill the brother. Savvy?" Henry then replied, "No, I do not savvy."

Video games

"Stay with me, you got a fighting chance, savvy?"

―Jack Sparrow

The word has been used several times in the video games relating to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The 2005 video game Kingdom Hearts II was the first game to feature the word, said by Captain Jack Sparrow in the "Port Royal" world, which follows the events of the first film. In the 2006 video game Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Jack Sparrow, Jack says "savvy" to Elizabeth Swann in the level "Royal Damsel, Jack's Distress" in Port Royal, and later in "Where There's Fire, There's Blacksmoke" during Jack's version of the sack of Nassau. Jack Sparrow says it several times in the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End video game.

The undead pirate Jolly Roger says "savvy" at least twice in the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Pirates of the Caribbean Online, in the "Who is Jolly Roger?" promotional video and in an invasion of Tortuga in the actual game.

In the 2011 video game LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game, players can earn the "Savvy?" trophy after unlocking all the playable LEGO Jack Sparrow characters.

Jack Sparrow says "savvy" in "The Caribbean" world in the 2019 Kingdom Hearts video game, Kingdom Hearts III.

Comics

The word has also seen usage in expanded media such as comics. Admiral Royce and Captain Jack Sparrow say it to one another in Part Two of the 2006 Disney Adventures comic The Compass of Destiny!.

Books

"Boy, back off. Steer clear. That's an order. Savvy?"

―Edward Teague

Captain Jack Sparrow uttered the phrase throughout the Rob Kidd book series Pirates of the Caribbean: Jack Sparrow and Legends of the Brethren Court, as well as A. C. Crispin's 2011 novel The Price of Freedom.

Captain Edward Teague, being Jack Sparrow's father, said it in Jack Sparrow: Sins of the Father and The Price of Freedom. Teague used "savvy" when talking to young Sparrow about how many times the older pirate captain's been betrayed by members of his crew, when the young adventurer brought up being betrayed by Fitzwilliam P. Dalton III. Edward later used the word with a glance fraught with warning for Jack to steer clear of Lady Esmeralda.

Disney Parks

In the 2012 attraction The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow, Jack Sparrow said "Savvy?" to the guests upon suggesting that they show "Captain Calamari" what they're made of before firing the port side cannon at the Flying Dutchman.

Behind the scenes

"You’ve sailed under a Captain of some renown. Pirate fellow."
"That would be Jack Sparrow."
"I'm a fan."
"As am I."
"If you were good enough for him -- (a shrug) I trust I shall have need of some pirate savvy before this is over."

―Admiral John Benbow to Joshamee Gibbs

• Johnny Depp (Captain Jack Sparrow) reportedly improvised the line "savvy" during shooting the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. He continued to use it throughout the movie franchise, which has continued to be part of Pirates of the Caribbean stories ever since.
• When discussing The Curse of the Black Pearl visual effects, specifically in Industrial Light & Magic creating Hector Barbossa's cursed crew of living undead skeletons, director Gore Verbinski said, "The effect of the pirates turning into living skeletons in the moonlight adds to the level of excitement on screen. It allowed us to have even more fun with the genre and the characters. The first time animatronics were used was in the Disney ride. Seeing the barking dog and the talking skeletons made you question whether or not it was real. But today's audiences are savvier because of effects. We are using computer-generated animation to achieve that same reality for today's audience."
• The word "savvy" appeared in at least two known released screenplays:
  • In Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio's screenplay draft for At World's End, Jack Sparrow said "savvy" to Scarlett and Giselle in Tortuga, as it appeared onscreen.
  • In Terry Rossio's screenplay draft for Dead Men Tell No Tales, "savvy" was said by Admiral John Benbow and Joshamee Gibbs, though it was more so in question on the latter's "pirate savvy" before and during the battle of Fort San Cristobal.
• On a "Tales from the Set" post on Wordplay, Terry Rossio talks about the last line in On Stranger Tides. While filming the scene at Ke'e Beach, Johnny Depp came up with a new end speech, which "steps on the Gibbs line, 'I'm Joshamee Gibbs'", and is centered around calling back (yet again) the "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow, Savvy?" bit. When actor Kevin McNally heard Depp's line, he immediately knew he'd have to give up his. After early "friends and family" screening of the film, one of the various changes needed was the final line of the film, "It's a pirate's life for me." Although Johnny absolutely wouldn't say the final line, as Rossio notes, the line eventually made its way back in, with Depp having agreed to record it via ADR.
• The introduction for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide begins with "Adventure is in the air, savvy?"

"We just need to follow the X!"
"And X always marks the spot. Savvy?"

―Henry Turner and Jack Sparrow

• In the Dead Men Tell No Tales Novelization, Jack Sparrow says "And X always marks the spot." As seen in the film's "Bloopers of the Caribbean", Johnny Depp improvised the word "savvy" into the line.
• "Savvy" is one of several "pirate words" used in a Talk Like a Pirate Day post made in 2019 on the Pirates of the Caribbean Facebook page.

Appearances

• The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow
• Jack Sparrow: The Coming Storm
• Jack Sparrow: The Sword of Cortés
• Jack Sparrow: The Age of Bronze
• Jack Sparrow: Silver
• Jack Sparrow: City of Gold
• Jack Sparrow: The Timekeeper
• Jack Sparrow: Dance of the Hours
• Jack Sparrow: Sins of the Father
• Jack Sparrow: Bold New Horizons
• The Price of Freedom
• Legends of the Brethren Court: The Caribbean
• Legends of the Brethren Court: Rising in the East
• Legends of the Brethren Court: The Turning Tide
• Legends of the Brethren Court: Wild Waters
• Legends of the Brethren Court: Day of the Shadow
• The Compass of Destiny!
• Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (First appearance)
• The Guardians of Windward Cove
• Pirates of the Caribbean Online
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (video game)
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (junior novelization)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Novelization
• Kingdom Hearts II (Non-canonical appearance)
• Kingdom Hearts III (Non-canonical appearance)
• LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game (Non-canonical appearance)

Source

• Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides: The Visual Guide