le
/e.ʃɛk/
Translation
failure, setback (in the plural, les échecs also means chess)
Word origin
From Old French eschec, borrowed through Arabic from Persian shah ('king'), the warning call in chess. The board game sense came first and the sense of a setback grew out of it, exactly as English 'check' did.
- Origin
- Persian
- Root
- shah
- English cognates
- check, cheque, checkmate
Grammar
Examples
' soldé .
The project ended in failure.
au , .
After three failures at her driving test, she finally passed.
L' scolaire '.
School failure still affects too many pupils.
- ' aux .
My grandfather taught me to play chess.
l' .
You have to know how to accept failure and start again.
Where this fits
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échec: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the French word "échec" (failure, setback (in the plural, les échecs also means chess)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 34.