The Story Behind “Checkmate”

Ever wonder where the word “checkmate” comes from?

Its journey through history is just as strategic as the game itself:

Persian roots — The phrase “Shāh Māt” (شاه مات) literally means “the king is helpless” or “the king is dead.” In Persian, “Shāh” = King, “Māt” = Defeated.

Arabic adaptation — As chess traveled through the Islamic world, the phrase evolved phonetically. In Arabic, it stayed close to its original form, with slight influences blending in from the language’s own nuances.

Old French twist — Chess then made its way into Europe via Spain and Italy, landing in Old French as “eschec mat”, paving the way for the version we know today.

Modern English — “Eschec” became “check” (threat to the king), and “mat” became “mate” (defeated).

Thus, “checkmate” was born — a simple word carrying centuries of strategy, conquest, and language evolution.

Every time you say “checkmate,” you’re speaking a little bit of Persian, Arabic, French, and English history.