The word checkmate in chess comes from the Persian phrase “shāh māt” (شاه مات).

• Shāh = “king”

• Māt = “helpless,” “defeated,” or “stunned”

So the phrase meant “the king is helpless” or “the king is defeated.”

When the game of chess spread from Persia to the Arab world, the phrase was adopted in Arabic as “shah mat.” Later, as chess moved into Europe through Spain and Italy, the phrase was translated and adapted into various languages. In English, it eventually became checkmate.

The word check itself in chess also comes from shāh (“king”), since placing a king under attack became known as “check.”

👉 In short: Checkmate = the king is under attack and has no escape.