jaque mate
/ˌxake ˈmate/
In Spanish, checkmate is jaque mate. Wiktionary also lists mate.
Meaning: said when making the conclusive move in chess (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| jaque mate | /ˌxake ˈmate/ | |
| mate | /ˈmate/ | masculine |
The phrase is used to declare the conclusive move in a game of chess that ends the match. It can also refer to the conclusive victory itself as a noun.
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of jaque (check) and mate (mate/kill/checkmate).
Which one should you use?
Use jaque when the king is under attack but the game is not over, and use jaque mate only when the king is trapped and the game ends.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase jaque mate functions as a masculine noun and can be preceded by the definite article el, as in el jaque mate. The form mate is a masculine noun that can also mean a conclusive victory in a game of chess.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌxake ˈmate/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word mate is a notorious homonym. Depending on the context, it can refer to a chess victory, a mathematical abbreviation, or even a traditional South American caffeine-rich herbal infusion.
- While jaque mate sounds like a single concept, its roots in Persian are actually a short sentence: šâh mât, meaning 'the king is dead'.
Examples in context
- Jaque mate.Checkmate.This sentence is useful for a simple declaration of checkmate.Tatoeba #8621057 by cueyayotl, translation #1685992 by gleki
- ¡Jaque mate!Checkmate!This sentence is useful for an emphatic declaration of checkmate.Tatoeba #611148 by Leono, translation #611140 by kebukebu
- Vale la pena hacer cualquier sacrificio de pieza, incluida la dama, si eso te da las condiciones para forzar el jaque mate.Any sacrifice of a piece, including the queen, is worth making if it gives you conditions to force checkmate.This sentence is useful for discussing the conditions needed to force the jaque mate.Tatoeba #10311925 by carlosalberto, translation #10311923 by carlosalberto
- Después de varios movimientos estratégicos, finalmente dije "jaque mate" y gané el juego.After several strategic moves, I finally said "jaque mate" and won the game.
- Con un rápido movimiento, logré dar "jaque y mate" al rey, poniendo fin al juego.With a swift move, I managed to deliver "jaque y mate" to the king, ending the game.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are finishing a chess match at a park.
- Elena¡Jaque mate, Daniel!Checkmate, Daniel!
- DanielNo lo vi venir.I didn't see it coming.
- ElenaFue un movimiento muy inteligente.It was a very smart move.
- DanielBuen juego, Elena.Good game, Elena.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “checkmate” translations and entries jaque mate, mate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jaque, mate, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
