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jaque

HAH-keh/ˈxake/

“jaque” means “check” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

check

Also: threat
NounmA2
A wooden chess king being targeted by a white knight on a checkered board.

📝 In Action

El jugador anunció 'jaque' al mover su torre.

A2

The player announced 'check' when moving his rook.

Tu rey está en jaque, tienes que moverlo.

A2

Your king is in check; you have to move it.

Hice un movimiento brillante para poner a su reina en peligro y darle jaque al mismo tiempo.

B1

I made a brilliant move to put his queen in danger and give check at the same time.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • dar jaque – to give check
  • jaque al rey – check to the king
  • jaque mate – checkmate

threat, challenge

Also: under pressure
NounmB2
A small wooden birdhouse sitting precariously on a thin, bending tree branch over a puddle.

📝 In Action

La huelga de transporte puso en jaque a toda la ciudad.

B2

The transport strike put the entire city in check (under serious pressure).

El nuevo virus ha puesto en jaque al sistema sanitario.

B2

The new virus has threatened the health system's stability.

Sus declaraciones pusieron en jaque la reputación de la empresa.

C1

His statements compromised the company's reputation.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • poner en jaque – to jeopardize / to put in check
  • estar en jaque – to be under threat
  • mantener en jaque – to keep someone at bay / under pressure

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "jaque" in Spanish:

challenge→check→threat→under pressure→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: jaque

Question 1 of 3

In a game of chess, how do you say 'to check'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
jaquear(to check (in chess) or to harass) — Verb
jaque mate(checkmate) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Persian word 'shāh', which means 'king'. When the king was under attack in chess, players would say 'shāh', which eventually became 'jaque' in Spanish.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: checkFrench: échec

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'jaque' the same as 'cheque'?

No! Although they sound similar, 'jaque' is for chess or threats, while 'cheque' is a bank check used for payment.

Does 'jaque' mean 'jacket'?

No, the word for jacket is 'chaqueta'. 'Jaque' has nothing to do with clothing.

Can 'jaque' be used as a verb?

No, 'jaque' is a noun. If you want to use a verb, use 'jaquear', although it is much more common to use the phrase 'dar jaque' or 'poner en jaque'.