How to Say "Checkers" in French

dames

The English word for the board game checkers is dames in French.

dames refers to the board game for two players where discs are moved diagonally across a checkered board.

What does it mean word for word?

The word dames literally translates to ladies.

When you use the phrase with the verb jouer (to play), you use the contraction aux dames (which is a combination of à and les).

In French, the specific move of capturing an opponent's piece is called manger (to eat). A player might say je mange ta pièce when making a move.
French dames is often played as dames internationales, which uses a larger 10×10 board instead of the 8×8 board used in English 'checkers'.
The word dames comes from the concept of 'crowning' a piece. When a piece reaches the opposite side, it is promoted to a dame (queen) and gains the power to move any distance.

Envie de jouer aux dames ?
Want to play checkers?
This sentence is useful for asking if someone wants to play dames.
Tatoeba #6885473 by GB3, translation #6583510 by Eccles17
Je ne sais pas jouer aux dames.
I don't know how to play checkers.
This sentence is useful for expressing that you do not know how to play dames.
Tatoeba #11185236 by lbdx, translation #11178200 by ddnktr
Sami et Layla jouaient aux dames.
Sami and Layla were playing checkers.
This sentence is useful for describing two people who were playing dames.
Tatoeba #7355687 by tras, translation #7353133 by OsoHombre
Je suis un grand fan du jeu de dames.
I am a big fan of checkers.
19 more sentences on Tatoeba

Chloé and Nathan are looking at board games in a closet.

Chloé

Tu veux faire une partie de dames ?
Do you want to play a game of checkers?
Nathan

Oui, mais je n'ai pas le plateau de dames.
Yes, but I don't have the checkers board.
Chloé

Regarde, il est juste là sur l'étagère !
Look, it's right there on the shelf!
Nathan

Super, on commence tout de suite.
Great, let's start right away.

Sources

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