jaque (spanish) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

• Noun

Phonetic Transcription

• /ˈxake/

Translation Options into English

• Check (in chess)
• A surprising attack

Meaning and Usage

The word "jaque" primarily refers to the term "check" in chess, indicating that the king is under direct threat from an opponent's piece. It can also be used colloquially in various contexts to denote a surprising attack or a sudden challenge. The frequency of use tends to be moderate in both spoken and written contexts, as it is specific to chess and idiomatic expressions.

Example Sentences

1. En la partida de ajedrez, mi oponente me dio jaque en el primer movimiento.

2. In the chess game, my opponent put me in check on the first move.

3. Juan siempre me da jaque cuando me reta a algún juego de estrategia.

4. Juan always surprises me with a challenge whenever he invites me to a strategy game.

Idiomatic Expressions

The word "jaque" is often part of several idiomatic expressions in Spanish, particularly in colloquial use. Here are some examples:

1. Estar en jaque
2. Estar en jaque significa estar en una situación de gran tensión o peligro.

3. Being in check means being in a situation of great tension or danger.

4. Jaque mate

5. El rey fue acorralado y el juego terminó en jaque mate.

6. The king was cornered, and the game ended in checkmate.

7. Poner a alguien en jaque

8. El escándalo político puso a la administración en jaque.

9. The political scandal put the administration in check.

10. Sacar del jaque

11. Tuvieron que sacar al equipo del jaque para poder ganar el torneo.

12. They had to pull the team out of check to be able to win the tournament.

13. Echar un jaque

14. En una discusión, a veces es bueno echar un jaque para evaluar la fuerza de los argumentos.
15. In a discussion, sometimes it's good to throw a check to evaluate the strength of the arguments.

Etymology

The term "jaque" is derived from the Spanish adaptation of the Old French word "eschec," which in turn comes from the Arabic "shah" (meaning "king"). This reflects its deep historical roots in the context of chess, wherein the term has served to denote threats to the king piece.

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms: (in chess context) ameaça, ataque; (in colloquial use) amenaza, desafío.
• Antonyms: (suggesting safety or security) seguridad, protección.