شَاهْ مَات
šāh mātmasculine
The English phrase "checkmate" is translated into Arabic as شَاهْ مَات (šāh māt). If unsure, use شَاهْ مَات. Wiktionary also lists مَات (māt) and كِش مَلِك (kiš malik).
Meaning: said when making the conclusive move in chess (intj)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| شَاهْ مَات | šāh māt | masculine |
| مَات | māt | masculine |
| كِش مَلِك | kiš malik | masculine |
The phrase is used when making the conclusive move in a game of chess. It can also function as a noun meaning a conclusive victory in a game of chess.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase شَاهْ مَات is a loanword from Persian meaning "the king is dead". The word مَات within the phrase is the past tense verb meaning "died".
Which one should you use?
In casual chess conversation, players may simply say مَات to indicate that the game is over.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
šāh māt
Did you know?
- The term كِش is often used in Arabic slang to mean 'shoo' or 'go away', typically when directing a cat or a bird.
- Arabic speakers sometimes use the phrase شَاهْ مَات metaphorically in politics or business to describe a situation where an opponent has no remaining options.
- Because the phrase شَاهْ مَات is a loanword, the word شَاهْ does not follow the standard Arabic root system of three consonants.
Examples in context
- شَاهْ مَات!shāh māt!Checkmate!
- لقد قلتُ لك، شَاهْ مَات.laqad qultu laka, shāh māt.I told you, checkmate.
- انتهت اللعبة، شَاهْ مَات.intahat al-lu'ba, shāh māt.The game is over, checkmate.
Example conversation
Ahmad and Nour are playing a game of chess at a cafe.
- نور Nourانظر إلى هذه الحركة يا أحمد.unzur ila hadhihi al-haraka ya Ahmad.Look at this move, Ahmad.
- أحمد Ahmedماذا تقصدين؟madha taqsidin?What do you mean?
- نور Nourشَاهْ مَات! لقد فزتُ عليك.shāh māt! laqad fuztu 'alayka.Checkmate! I won against you.
- أحمد Ahmedلم أتوقع هذه النهاية.lam atawaqqa' hadhihi al-nihaya.I did not expect this end.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “checkmate” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
