Why are pirates called pirates?

This joke is a playful use of language that plays on the stereotypical way pirates are depicted as speaking in popular culture. Pirates are often portrayed in movies and books as having a distinctive way of speaking, characterized by a strong, exaggerated “R” sound, often written as “ARRRRRR” or “arrrgh.” The joke asks, “Why are pirates called pirates?” and answers with “Because they ARRRRRRR!” This is a form of wordplay where the answer is a humorous reinterpretation of the question. The punchline is funny because it uses the sound “ARRRRRR” as both a representation of how pirates speak and as a playful explanation for why they are called “pirates.”