WordGarden.iohalma
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈhalmə/noun
US
Meanings
Noun
a strategy board game in which players move pieces across a square board by steps and jumps
Beyond the definition
Picture a quiet table, a square board, and players trying to move all their pieces across to the far corner. That is the usual meaning of "halma" in English: a strategy board game in which pieces move by single steps or by jumping over other pieces. The jumping part helps explain the name, which comes from a Greek word meaning "leap."
You will usually see "halma" in writing about games, old-fashioned pastimes, or the history of Chinese checkers, which was developed from it. In normal English, people do not usually use "halma" to mean a sudden change, a career move, or a mental leap.
If you come across "halma," think first of the game, not of a general idea like progress or sudden movement. In English, "halma" is a noun for a strategy board game played on a square board. The goal is to move your pieces from your starting corner to the opposite corner, and one of the main ways to do that is by jumping over other pieces. That jumping action is the reason for the name: it comes from the Greek word for "leap."
The word is most useful in game-related contexts. You might read about a family playing halma, a writer describing an old parlor game, or a history note explaining that Chinese checkers was based on halma. In these settings, the meaning is clear and concrete. It names a specific game, usually one that rewards planning, patience, and careful movement across the board.
It is important not to stretch the meaning too far. Although the Greek source means "leap," modern English does not normally use "halma" for a leap in life, a leap in logic, or a leap in business. Those uses sound unusual and would confuse many readers. So if you use the word in English, the safest and most natural meaning is the board game itself, with its steady moves and well-timed jumps.
Examples
- 1
Family game
After dinner, my grandfather taught us how to play halma.
- 2
Game pieces
The children argued over who would use the red pieces in halma.
- 3
Old board
She found an old halma board in the attic and put it on the coffee table.
See also
Shades of meaning
- jumping board game
Used with (collocations)
- play halma
- halma board
- halma pieces
Explore
- chinese checkers
- strategy board game
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- halmanoun