Checkmate Means the King Is Helpless
A mate is a companion or a breeding partner. In chess the word comes from Persian.
A mate is a companion, a breeding partner or, in British and Australian use, a friend. The chess sense is a separate word: *checkmate* comes from Persian *shah mat*, the king is helpless or defeated. The common claim that it means the king is dead is a misreading — *mat* means helpless or at a loss, and the point of chess is that the king is never actually captured. The companion sense comes from Middle Low German *mate*, one who eats at the same table.
- A companion. *An old mate.*
- A breeding partner. *Choosing a mate.*
- Checkmate. *Checkmate.*
- A ship's officer. *The first mate.*
- Persian — *shah mat*. *The chess sense.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | mate | A mate. |
| Plural | mates | Mates. |
| Verb | mate | Mating. |
| Compound | checkmate | Checkmate. |
| Persian | shah mat | The king is helpless. |
- He met an old mate.Friend.
- Checkmate in three.Chess.
- Mat means helpless.Correction.
Chess words from Persian and Arabic
- Checkmate — from *shah mat*, the king is helpless
- Check — from *shah*, the king
- Rook — from Persian *rukh*, a chariot
- Alfil — the old name for the bishop, Arabic for elephant
- The game reached Europe through Persia and the Arab world
Middle Low German *mate*, a table companion. The chess term is Persian *shah mat*.
Does checkmate mean the king is dead?
No. Persian mat means helpless or at a loss. The king is never captured in chess, only trapped.
Where does mate meaning friend come from?
Middle Low German mate, meaning one who eats at the same table, related to meat in its old sense of food.