Python Program to Convert Sentence to Pig Latin

Summary: In this programming example, we will learn to convert a string or sentence into Pig Latin using Python programming.

What is Pig Latin?

It is said that Pig Latin is not any kind of language but is a language game that children use to speak in code. It is formed by altering the letters in a word.

Here’s how it works:

First, pick an English word. We’ll use dictionary.

Next, move the first consonant or consonant cluster to the end of the word: “ictionary-d”.

Now add “ay” to the end of the word: “ictionary-day”.

That’s all there is to it; you’ve formed a word in Pig Latin.

I recommend you to read more about Pig Latin on the wiki.

Now we have some idea what exactly is Pig Latin, so let’s try converting a whole sentence into its Pig Latin form.

sentence = input('Enter a Sentence: ').lower()
words = sentence.split()

for i, word in enumerate(words):
    
    '''
    if first letter is a vowel
    '''
    if word[0] in 'aeiou':
        words[i] = words[i]+ "ay"
    else:
        '''
        else get vowel position and postfix all the consonants 
        present before that vowel to the end of the word along with "ay"
        '''
        has_vowel = False
        
        for j, letter in enumerate(word):
            if letter in 'aeiou':
                words[i] = word[j:] + word[:j] + "ay"
                has_vowel = True
                break

        #if the word doesn't have any vowel then simply postfix "ay"
        if(has_vowel == False):
            words[i] = words[i]+ "ay"

pig_latin = ' '.join(words)
print("Pig Latin: ",pig_latin)

Output:

Enter a Sentence: Pencil Programmer
Pig Latin: encilpay ogrammerpray

Explanation:

1. Input a sentence using the input() method
2. Split it into a list of words using split()
3. Loop through the words and check if any of them begins with vowels.
   1. If yes, then concatenate “ay” and update the word in the word’s list.
   2. Else check if there is any vowel present in between the word.
      1. If yes then get the first vowel index position and postfix all the consonants present before that vowel to the end of the word along with “ay”.
4. Otherwise, postfix “ay” to the word because it doesn’t have any vowel.
5. Form a new sentence using the join() method and output it.

These are the steps following which we can easily convert any sentence into its corresponding Pig Latin form in Python.