How to Say "rook" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “rook” is “torre” — use 'torre' when referring to the chess piece that moves horizontally or vertically across the board..
English → Spanish
torre
TOH-rreh/ˈto.re/
nounB1chess piece
Use 'torre' when referring to the chess piece that moves horizontally or vertically across the board.
Examples
Movió la torre para defender al rey.
He moved the rook to defend the king.
La torre es la pieza más fuerte después de la reina.
The rook is the strongest piece after the queen.
Context is Key
When talking about chess, 'torre' is the piece that looks like a little castle.
castillo
/kas-TEE-yo//kasˈtiʝo/
nounB1chess piece
Use 'castillo' when referring to the chess piece, often understood as a castle or fortress, that moves horizontally or vertically.
Examples
El jugador movió su castillo para proteger al rey.
The player moved his rook to protect the king.
Torre vs. Castillo in Chess
While both 'torre' and 'castillo' are understood as the chess piece 'rook', 'torre' is the more frequent and standard term. Using 'castillo' might sound slightly more poetic or archaic in a chess context, though it is perfectly valid.
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