belote: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Technical (gaming)
Quick answer
What does “belote” mean?
A trick-taking card game for two to four players, popular in France and some other European countries, played with a 32-card deck.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A trick-taking card game for two to four players, popular in France and some other European countries, played with a 32-card deck.
The term can also refer to a specific winning combination or declaration within the game, or to the game's community and culture.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is virtually unknown in general American English. In British English, it is known only to card game enthusiasts with knowledge of European games.
Connotations
Strongly connotes French or Continental European culture. In the UK, it may carry a slight connotation of being a niche, imported pastime.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, but marginally higher in UK English due to geographical and cultural proximity to France.
Grammar
How to Use “belote” in a Sentence
to play belote (with someone)to win/lose at beloteto be good at beloteVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “belote” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not used as a verb]
American English
- [Not used as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not used as an adverb]
American English
- [Not used as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Not used as an adjective]
American English
- [Not used as an adjective]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in specific historical or cultural studies of games.
Everyday
Used only among players of the game or when discussing European card games.
Technical
Used precisely within the rules and terminology of the game.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “belote”
- Misspelling as 'belotte' or 'bellote'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to belote someone' is incorrect).
- Assuming it is a common word in English.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different trick-taking card games. Belote uses a 32-card deck and has different scoring and bidding systems.
Belote is most commonly played by four players in two partnerships, but two- and three-player variations exist.
It is most popular in France, but also played in other European countries like Bulgaria, Croatia, and some North African nations.
No, it is a very low-frequency loanword in English, used almost exclusively by people familiar with the game.
A trick-taking card game for two to four players, popular in France and some other European countries, played with a 32-card deck.
Belote is usually informal, technical (gaming) in register.
Belote: in British English it is pronounced /bəˈlɒt/, and in American English it is pronounced /bəˈloʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common English idioms with 'belote'. In French gaming contexts, 'faire une belote' means to score a belote combination.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BELL' (as in a signal to start) + 'VOTE' (as in choosing a card to play) = BELOTE, a game where you play cards after a signal.
Conceptual Metaphor
GAME IS BATTLE (e.g., 'defeat your opponents', 'winning trick').
Practice
Quiz
What is 'belote' primarily?