French word

pion

Pronunciation

IPA/pjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounpawn

Example

Il a avancé un pion sans réfléchir.

He advanced a pawn without thinking.

Illustration for pion (pawn)

More examples

Dans l'entreprise, il se sentait un pion.

In the company, he felt like a pawn.

Core concept

A minor piece sent forward to do limited work, whether on a board or for someone else's plan.

Common phrases

  • être un pion

    be a pawn

  • manipuler un pion

    manipulate a pawn

Similar words

pièce: Any playing piece used in a game of chess.
surveillant: A school staff member who watches students and performs minor duties.

Definition in French

Pièce d'échecs de moindre valeur se déplaçant surtout vers l'avant ; familièrement, surveillant ou employé chargé de menus services, ou personne instrumentalisée par d'autres.

Word origin

French pion comes from Old French peon and ultimately medieval Latin pedonem, a term for a foot soldier that developed into the chess term and later human uses.

Usage tips

  • In school contexts, un pion is an informal term for a supervisor or monitor, while surveillant is more neutral.

Other meanings

  • school monitornoun
  • gofernoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word