Chess is a game with a thousand-year history, and terminology has evolved along with it. One of the most common questions that arises in the linguistic environment is how to correctly call chess pieces: pawns or pawns? Both options occur in the literature, but one of them is normative. Let's deal with the IZ in the etymology of these words and find out the correct form.
The origin of the word “pishak”
The Ukrainian word “pishak” comes from the Polish pionek, which, in turn, is borrowed from the French pion (infantry soldier). In turn, the French word has roots in Latin: pedō, which means “one who walks”. The same meaning has been preserved in the modern Ukrainian language – a person walking, a pedestrian, a foot soldier.
In chess terminology, a pawn is the least important, but most numerous piece, which in chess symbolizes an infantry soldier who moves forward and can eventually turn into a stronger piece.
Is the option “on foot” possible?
The word “on foot” exists in the Ukrainian language, but it is an adverb and is used in the meaning “on foot”, for example:
- We walked on footto school.
- You can get to the city center on foot.
However, in a chess context “pawns” as a name for pieces is incorrect.
How is that correct?
The only correct way to refer to chess pieces is “pawns”. This is the form recorded in Ukrainian dictionaries and chess literature.
Why is it important to use the correct terminology?
- Preserving the language norm. “Pawns” is a standard term, fixed in linguistic sources and used by the chess community.
- Avoiding ambiguities. Using the word “pawns” can be misleading, because it means something completely different.
- Literacy and correctness of language. Adhering to the correct terminology makes the language more precise and understandable for everyone.
If we talk about chess pieces, the correct option is pawns. This word comes from the Polish pionek and the French pion, which means “footman”. The variant “piški” is incorrect in this meaning, since in Ukrainian it is used exclusively as an adverb, meaning a way of moving. Therefore, the correct chess terminology is pawns.
Continue to research how to spell the word correctly: Выежать, выезжать or выезжать?