damas
/damas/from spelling rules
damas is the Spanish word for the board game checkers.
The term refers to the two-player board game similar to checkers. When you want to express the action of playing the game, use the phrase jugar a las damas.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, damas means 'ladies'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The game is almost always referred to using the feminine plural definite article las, forming the phrase las damas. To say 'to play checkers', use the verb jugar followed by the preposition a and the article las.
How do you pronounce it?
/damas/
Did you know?
- Because damas means 'ladies', the term is also used in a historical or formal context to refer to the ladies-in-waiting of a royal court.
- In Spain, the game damas is played on a board with a different layout than American checkers, and the pieces move according to rules closer to the international version of the game.
- While damas refers to the game, the word dama is also used in Spanish to describe a high-ranking female chess piece, similar to the 'queen'.
Examples in context
- ¿Quieres jugar a las damas conmigo?Do you want to play damas with me?
- Tengo un tablero de damas en casa.I have a damas board at home.
Example conversation
Two friends are relaxing in a living room during a rainy afternoon.
- Daniel¿Tienes un tablero de damas?Do you have a damas board?
- SofíaSí, lo tengo en la estantería.Yes, I have it on the shelf.
- Daniel¡Perfecto! Juguemos una partida.Perfect! Let's play a game.
- SofíaMe parece una buena idea, Daniel.That sounds like a good idea, Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
