Definition
A chess piece used in the game of chess; one of the 32 carved or molded figures representing different types of pieces in a chess set.
Etymology
From chess + man (used historically to mean 'piece' or 'individual unit'); the term dates to medieval chess vocabulary.
Kelly Says
The Lewes Chessmen, carved from walrus ivory in the 1100s and lost at sea, were so valuable that when discovered in Scotland, they became a treasured museum piece worth hundreds of thousands of pounds—medieval gamers apparently had serious taste.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
Chess ተጫዋች
Chess teh-cha-wach
ARالعربية
قطعة الشطرنج
qata-a ash-shatranj
BNবাংলা
শ্যাচ খেলার টুকরা
shaach khela-ar tukra
CACatalà
jugador d'escacs
zhoo-ga-dor day shane-drad
CSČeština
šachová figurka
sha-cho-va fi-gur-ka
DADansk
sjakkbrik
sjakk-brik
DEDeutsch
Schachfigur
shakh-fig-ur
ELΕλληνικά
πιόνι
pee-o-nee
ESEspañol
pieza de ajedrez
pee-e-sa deh a-heh-dresh
FAفارسی
تکه شطرنج
ta-keh sha-taranj
FISuomi
shakkilauta
shak-ki-lau-ta
FRFrançais
pion d'échecs
pee-on day-shekh
GUGU
chess ખેલાડી
chess khela-adi
HAHA
dan wasan chess
dan wa-san chess
HEעברית
כדור שח
kadoor shach
HIहिन्दी
शतरंज का प्यादा
shatranj ka pya-da
HUMagyar
sakkfigura
sakk-fi-gur-a
IDBahasa Indonesia
bidak catur
bi-dak ca-tur
IGIG
onye na-eche
o-nye na-e-che
ITItaliano
pedina
peh-dee-na
KKKK
шахматшы
shakhmatshy
KMKM
អ្នកលេង ឆេស
an-lok le-ng ches
MRMR
शतरंज खेळाडू
shatranj khela-adu
MSBahasa Melayu
bidak catur
bi-dak ca-tur
MYမြန်မာ
ချက်စ ပြိုင် သူ
chet-sa p-r-o-in-thu
NLNederlands
schaakstuk
shaak-stuk
NONorsk
sjakkbrikk
sjakk-brikk
PAPA
chess ਖੇਡਾਰੀ
chess khed-ari
PLPolski
figurka szachowa
fi-gur-ka sha-kho-wa
PTPortuguês
peça de xadrez
peh-sa deh shane-drad
RORomână
piesă de șah
pee-să deh shah
RUРусский
шахматная фигура
shah-mat-naya fig-u-ra
SVSvenska
schackbit
shak-bit
SWKiswahili
chess mchezaji
chess m-che-za-ji
TAதமிழ்
வ Chess பாகம்
va Chess pa-gam
TEతెలుగు
చెస్సు ఆట పాత్ర
ches-su a-ta pa-tra
THไทย
ชิ้นหมากรุก
chin ma-kruk
TLTL
piyesang chess
pee-yes-ang chess
TRTürkçe
satranç hamlesi
sa-tranch ham-le-si
UKУкраїнська
шахматна фігура
shah-mat-na fi-gu-ra
URاردو
شطرنج کا ٹکڑا
shatranj ka tukra
VITiếng Việt
quân cờ vua
quan cor vua
YOYO
olùgbọ́n ẹ́kù
o-lu-g-bo-n e-ku
ZUZU
umqangi we-chess
um-qan-gi we-chess
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Chess terminology historically defaulted to male forms ('chessman,' 'king,' 'bishop') reflecting gendered social hierarchies where men dominated intellectual games. The term persists despite modern inclusive gaming culture.
Inclusive Usage
Use 'chess piece' or 'chessman/chesswoman' when gender is relevant; otherwise default to the neutral 'piece.'
Inclusive Alternatives
["chess piece","chessman/chesswoman","piece"]
Empowerment Note
Women have shaped modern chess strategy and theory—from Vera Menchik (first Women's World Champion) to Judit Polgar redefining elite play. Recognition of women players challenges the male-defaulting terminology.