scacchi
/ˈskak.ki/masculine, plural
Chess in Italian is scacchi.
scacchi is the name of the two-player board game.
Meaning: two-player board game (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word is a masculine plural noun, which is why it is almost always used in its plural form. When using the verb giocare (to play) with chess, you must use the preposition a before the word scacchi, forming the phrase a scacchi.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈskak.ki/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st of 2 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use the singular form lo scacco to mean the game, but scacchi is the standard term for the game itself.
Did you know?
- The Italian word scacchi is a relative of the English word 'check', as both derive from the Persian word šâh, meaning 'king'.
- In Italian, a 'stalemate' is called stallo, which literally means 'stable' or 'standstill', reflecting the absolute lack of movement allowed for the king.
- The Italian word for the knight piece is cavallo, meaning 'horse', whereas English retains the military rank of 'knight'.
Examples in context
- Mi batté a scacchi.She beat me at chess.This sentence is useful for seeing how to express being beaten at the game using scacchi.Tatoeba #8240289 by Guybrush88, translation #4708062 by adamtrousers
- Tu giochi a scacchi?Do you play chess?This sentence shows how to ask someone if they play scacchi.Tatoeba #2562797 by Guybrush88, translation #2050551 by CK
- Tom gioca a scacchi.Tom plays chess.This sentence demonstrates the verb usage for playing scacchi.Tatoeba #6802208 by Guybrush88, translation #6399859 by Hybrid
- È un maestro degli scacchi.He is a chess master.
- Prendiamo sul serio il gioco degli scacchi.We take the game of chess seriously.
- 361 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Martina are talking in a cafe.
- LorenzoTi piacciono gli scacchi, Martina?Do you like chess, Martina?
- MartinaSì, sono molto appassionata di scacchi.Yes, I am very passionate about chess.
- LorenzoVuoi fare una partita?Do you want to play a game?
- MartinaCertamente, giochiamo subito!Certainly, let's play right away!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “chess” translations and entries scacchi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries scacchi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
