French word

pioche

Pronunciation

IPA/pjɔʃ/

Meaning

  • feminine noundeck

Example

Dans ce jeu, on pioche dans la pioche.

In this game, you draw from the deck.

Illustration for pioche (deck)

More examples

Il reste peu de cartes dans la pioche.

There are few cards left in the draw pile.

Core concept

A stack of cards waiting to feed the next draw.

Common phrases

  • prendre une carte dans la pioche

    take a card from the draw pile

  • remettre une carte dans la pioche

    put a card back in the draw pile

Similar words

tas: A heap of objects gathered into a mound.
pile: A high stack of objects forming a solid mass.
paquet: A set of papers or cards bundled together.

Definition in French

Dans un jeu de cartes, la pioche désigne le paquet ou la réserve d'où l'on tire des cartes.

Word origin

The noun pioche developed from piocher, whose meaning extends from taking a card to selecting or taking something from a reserve.

Usage tips

  • Piocher also applies outside card games to selecting or taking something from a list, group, or other source.

Other meanings

  • pickaxenoun

Related words

  • piocherdrawverb
  • piochédrawnadjective

Word lists with this word