morpion
/mɔʁ.pjɔ̃/
The English phrase "noughts and crosses" is translated into French as morpion.
morpion refers to the two-player game where players take turns marking a grid with zeros and crosses. You can use the specific expression le jeu du morpion to refer to the game itself. To express the action of playing the game, use the phrase jouer au morpion, which combines the verb jouer with the preposition au and the noun morpion.
How does it change in a sentence?
When expressing the action of playing the game, you must use the construction jouer au morpion.
How do you pronounce it?
/mɔʁ.pjɔ̃/
Did you know?
- While morpion is the standard name for the game, it is also the precise French medical term for a pubic louse.
- The term morpion is a portmanteau of mordre, meaning 'to bite', and pion, meaning 'pawn'.
- While English speakers use 'noughts', French players often describe the zero as un rond, which means 'a circle'.
Examples in context
- Le morpion est un jeu de réflexion qui se joue sur une grille de 3×3 cases. Les joueurs utilisent des 'X' et des 'O' pour marquer chaque case à tour de rôle. L'objectif est d'aligner trois de ses symboles horizontalement, verticalement ou en diagonale pour gagner la partie.Morpion is a strategy game that is played on a 3×3 grid. Players take turns using 'X' and 'O' to mark each square. The goal is to align three of your symbols horizontally, vertically, or diagonally to win the game.
- Tu veux jouer au morpion ?Do you want to play noughts and crosses?
- On joue au morpion ?Shall we play noughts and crosses?
- Elle est très forte au morpion.She is very good at noughts and crosses.
- Le morpion est un jeu simple.Noughts and crosses is a simple game.
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are bored while waiting for the bus.
- GabrielOn joue au morpion pour passer le temps ?Shall we play noughts and crosses to pass the time?
- ManonD'accord, je commence !Okay, I'll start!
- GabrielTu as déjà perdu ce morpion, Manon.You've already lost this game of noughts and crosses, Manon.
- ManonC'est impossible, regarde bien !That's impossible, look closely!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry morpion, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries morpion, CC BY-SA 4.0.
