j'adoube

Borrowed from French j'adoube (“I adjust”), from je (“I”) + adouber (“to adjust”).

j'adoube

1. (chess) Spoken by a before adjusting a piece on the chessboard, to indicate that one is not making a move in the game.

• Used when neither player speaks a common language.

Borrowed from French j'adoube (“I adjust”), from je (“I”) + adouber (“to adjust”).

j'adoube

1. (chess) Spoken by a before adjusting a piece on the chessboard, to indicate that one is not making a move in the game.
   • 2022, “2023 Laws of Chess”, in FIDE‎^[1], page 8:

     Only the player having the move may adjust one or more pieces on their squares, provided that he/she first expresses his/her intention (for example by saying “j’adoube” or “I adjust”).

   • 2025 March 22, Edward Winter, “J’adoube”, in Chess History‎^[2], archived from the original on 6 August 2025:

     The English text reads:
     ‘Provided that he first expresses his intention (e.g. by saying “j’adoube” or “I adjust”), the player having the move may adjust one or more pieces on their squares.’ […] From Harry Golombek’s column on page 26 of The Times, 2 December 1967, with regard to the touch-piece and j’adoube rule: […] ‘Matulović-Bilek was a highly interesting game marred by an unpleasant dispute. On move 38 the Yugoslav champion Matulović is alleged to have taken back a move, then to have assured his opponent that he had said “j’adoube” and made another move.

   • 2025 September 22 (last accessed), “J'adoube - Chess Terms”, in Chess.com‎^[3], archived from the original on 30 July 2025:

     Of course, you can say "adjust" or "I adjust" as well, but "J'adoube" is recognized worldwide as the same thing—this distinction could be important if you play against someone who doesn't speak your language in an OTB game.