Petanque Glossary
Here is a list of vocabulary specific to the practice of petanque ... with a little special touch Le Treiz bringing together several expressions heard around us and throughout the petanque universe. Good reading !

ABANDON THE END :
(“Abandonner la mène”)
Stop trying to regain the point and place your boules strategically to limit the number of points of the opposing team.
ADD :
(“Ajouter”)
Your opponent has no more boules to play and you have some left that you will play to add points to your score.
HAVING THE BOULES ADVANTAGE :
(“Avoir l’avantage des boules”)
Finding yourself in a more favorable situation against your opponents (you have more boules left than your opponents at a given point in the end).
HAVE THE POINT :
(“Avoir le point”)
Have a boule (or more) better placed than those of your opponents.
RING (TAKE A) / SLAMMER (TAKE A) :
(“Bague (prendre une) / Tôle (prendre une)”)
Lose a game with a score of 13 to 0.
SWEEPING :
(“Balayer”)
Technique which consists of smoothing of flattering the ground by sweeping it so as to eliminate any obstacle. Please note, this is prohibited in the regulation.
KISS (MAKE A) :
(“Bec (faire un)”)
Hit an already placed boule to deflect your boule towards the jack.
KISS THE JACK (MAKE THE BOULE) / TADPOLE (MAKE A) :
(“Biberon (faire un) / Embouchonner / Têtard (faire un)”)
During a throw, the boule sticks to the jack.
MARBLES :
(“Billes”)
Term which designates small diameter boules. (<72mm)
BOMBER / GUNNER :
(“Bombardier / Canonnier”)
Refers to a shooter in top form.
SQUARE BOULE :
(“Boule carrée”)
Soft hardness boule completely hammered by impacts.
STUFFED BOULE / MAD BOULE :
(“Boule farcie / Boule fadée”)
Trick boule to which mercury, sand, oil or gas has been added to make it heavier.
NATURAL BOULE (PLAY A) :
(“Boule nature (jouer une)”)
Play the boule without giving it any effect.
TRAP BOULE :
(“Boule trappe / Boule piège”)
Said from a point bag enough that the opposing team believes they can easily recapture it, but in vain.
POINTING YOUR GAZE :
(“Braquer”)
Stare at our opponent while he shoots to distract him.
PIKE (MAKE A) / BANANA (MAKE A) :
(“Brochet (faire un) / Banane (faire une)”)
Make significant gap at throw.
JACK / PIGLET / SMALL / CORK :
(“But / Cochonnet / Petit / Bouchon”)
Colloquially called the “bouchon” (cork) — from the Occitan bochon (“little ball”). It is a small wooden ball 35mm in diameter.
IT’S ENOUGH TO EAT :
(“C’est assez pour manger")
When a boule narrowly takes the point.
FRAMING (GAME) :
(“Cadrage (partie de)”)
During a competition, part whose objective is to reduce the number of teams or players to a minimum of two.
FRAME :
(“Cadre”)
Marked field boundaries, beyond which the boules and the jack are lost. The official dimensions of a plot of land are 4m x 15m.
PERFECT SHOT :
(“Carreau (faire un)”)
Term used when there is an “direct hit” shot. The thrown shooting boule stays within a very close radius of the one it.
Three situations are described by specific terms :
• Spot shot (“Carreau parfait”) / Colour change (“Changement de couleur”) / A dry (“Un sec”) / A freeze (“Un gel”) / A tail (“Un pile”) : When the drawn boule takes the exact place of the targeted boule.
• Extended perfect shot (“Carreau allongé”) : When the drawn boule rolls forward after impact on the targeted boule.
• A recoil (“Un recul”) / Retro perfect shot (“Carreau rétro”) : When the drawn boule goes backwards after impact on the targeted boule.
• Skate (“Patinette”) : When the drawn boule spins on itself at the same location as the targeted boule. Without a doubt one of the most beautiful gestures in pétanque.
SKIMMER (A) :
(“Casquette (faire une)”)
When a boule is shot, it hits a boule on the upper part (on the “head”) and the targeted boule stays in its place or moves very little.
BREAK THE ARM :
(“Casser le bras”)
Cut your opponent’s momentum by disturbing him.
BREAK THE BOULES :
(“Casser les boules”)
When a player shoots his opponent’s boules directly and without restraint.
CIRCLE / ROUND :
(“Cercle / Rond”)
Location from where the player must throw his boule.
SEARCH FOR TREASURE :
(“Chercher un trésor”)
Make holes repeatedly. Told to a shooter who’s missing many throw.
GOAT (PLAY LIKE A) / PINE (PLAY LIKE A) :
(“Chèvre (jouer comme une) / Pine (jouer comme une)”)
Play poorly and make several bad moves in a game without regaining your rhythm.
TICKLE A BOULE / BRUSH A BOULE :
(“Chiquer une boule”)
Make a shot that grazes the target boule, moving it only slightly.
SELECT (MAKE A) / SORT :
(“Choisi (faire un) / Trier”)
Hit a boule that is next to another boule, without dislodging the latter.
SCISSOR (MAKE A) :
(“Ciseau (faire un)”)
Chase two opposing boules with a single shot. This shot requires hitting the first boule at the appropriate angle in order to ricochet off the second boule.
STRIKE AGAINST (HAVE A) :
(“Contre (avoir un)”)
Shoot the desired boule, but in such a way that it or the boule played hits — and separates — a boule from your own team. We speak of “strike against dry” when the opposing boule hits the boule of its own team and therefore takes its place.
HOOK :
(“Crocheter”)
When throwing, the boule stays in the hand too long and it does not come out at the right time.
DEFEND THE POINT :
(“Défendre le point”)
It is to defend a well-placed boule by shooting at the opposing boule(s) which do better.
DEMARK :
(“Démarquer”)
When the opposing team no longer has boules and the other team has boules left and at least one point is already acquired, the latter plays (points or shoots) to add points and gives the point back to the adversary. This can either by chasing the boule or boules which had the point(s) of his team or by “returning” an opposing boule by pushing it as close as possible to the jack.
HALF-SHOT (MAKE A) :
(“Demi-coup (faire un)”)
Play the boule harder than what a normal extra would require (we say “stronger than the game”) in order to hit the boules (or the jack) to move them a short distance. It is a shot between the point and the shot, hence its name. It can be used to separate two boules that are stuck together.
HALF-LOB (PLAY IN) :
(“Demi-portée (jouer en)”)
Point by throwing the boule approximately halfway between the throwing circle and the jack. This distance varies depending on the layout of the game on the field. This is the most common and easiest style to achieve.
IN FRONT OF THE BOULE / MOSQUITOSTICLED / NUTS-BREAKER (MAKE A) :
(“Devant de boule / Mousticuler / Casse-couilles (faire une)”)
Place yourself in front of an opposing boule by sticking to it. This is annoying for the opponent’s game because these are difficult boules to shoot. (When shooting, most of the time the boule in front remains in place and it is the boule behind that is released.)
LANDING SPOT :
(“Donne (la) / Donnée (la)”)
Impact zone on the ground of the pointed boule. The search for good landing spot is essential on difficult field (with irregular surface).
DOUBLES / DOUBLET :
(“Doublette”)
Team made up of two players (pointer and shooter). Each of them has three boules.
BURST THE GAME / HAMMER BLOW / PILEUP :
(“Éclater le jeu / Coup de marteau / Carambolage”)
Manage to move several boules with the same shot, in a brutal way.
RETURNING EFFECT :
(“Effet rentrant”)
Give an effect to the boule with which it will rotate on itself and tend to go left (for a right-hander) or right (for a left-hander).
OUTGOING EFFECT :
(“Effet sortant”)
Give an effect to the boule with which it will rotate on itself and tend to go right (for a right-hander) or left (for a left-hander).
SEND A TRAIN / SEND A TGV :
(“Envoyer un train / Envoyer un TGV”)
Said when a player points a boule that is much too long on the field in relation to the positioning of the entire game.
SEND A BOULE TO THE BOARDS :
(“Envoyer une boule aux planches”)
When a pointer or shot boule crossed the game and touches the edge of the playing surface.
SWORDFISH (MAKE A) :
(“Espadon (faire un)”)
When a drawn boule lands very, very far from the targeted boule.
BEING NAKED :
(“Être à poil”)
No longer having boules.
MAKE MUSIC / SLEDGING :
(“Faire de la musique”)
Try to destabilize your opponent by chatting between points, either with him or with your own partners.
DO THE COIN :
(“Faire la pièce”)
Draw lots to determine who will start the game.
BEING A TOURIST :
(“Faire le touriste”)
Refers to a person who shows up to a competition or a game with friends without his boules.
MAKE A BOUKA :
(“Faire un Bouka”)
Constantly looking for your boules and not paying attention to the game.
MAKE A FRED :
(“Faire une Fred”)
Misplacing your boules and not finding them.
MAKE A RADNIC :
(“Faire une Radnic”)
Intentionally aim at the jack to push it back.
When the team throwing the goal sends it too close (6-7 meters) and does not want to take an offensive end.
MAKE A SUCHAUD :
(“Faire une Suchaud”)
When a player can shoot a boule and misses it by taking the jack as it moves near the boules of his teammates.
FANNY (PUT A) / JEAN-GUY (PUT A) :
(“Fanny (mettre une) / Jean-Guy (mettre une)”)
Win a game with a score of 13 to 0..
BLACKSMITH :
(“Forgeron”)
Player who hits all the boules by shooting “direct hit”.
SPURT :
(“Fuser”)
Boule that has a bad impact on the ground and leaves violently.
PLAY HIGHT / PLAY LOW / PLAY THE GAME :
(“Jouer haut / Jouer bas / Jouer au jeu”)
When the field is inclined laterally, we distinguish the “top” (highest side) and the “bottom” (lowest side). Thus, playing :
• “the game” is to play on the ideal trajectory passing through the jack.
• “higher than the play” is to play on any trajectory passing higher than the jack.
• “lower than the play” is to play on any trajectory passing lower than the jack.
PLAY THE BOULE :
(“Jouer la boule”)
Pointing with the intention of pushing a boule of your team which is in front of the jack but which is not close enough to score (ideally, after the shot, the boule pushed and the boule played score). The whole art of this shot is to measure the force so that the point is taken even if the target boule is missed.
KISS KISS (MAKE A) :
(“Kiss Kiss (faire une)”)
Hit two boules already placed on the field to deflect your boule toward the jack.
WIN (PLAY FOR THE) :
(“La gagne (jouer pour)”)
You have in hand all the assets to reach thirteen points and win the game.
DROP THE BOULE :
(“Lâcher la boule”)
To the point, play a little harder than normal, either voluntarily or involuntarily.
LITTER :
(“Litière”)
Field comprising very fine gravel.
TO MARK :
(“Marquer”)
• Have one or more points that will be counted towards your score.
• This also refers to the action of putting a mark on the ground either near the jack or a boule to identify its position. (If, for whatever reason, the game is moved unintentionally, this mark identifies the point of origin of the moved element.)
MELI-MELO / SCRUM :
(“Méli-mélo / À la mêlée”)
Competition where teams are formed by drawing lots.
MELONS :
(“Melons”)
Term which designates large diameter boules. (>75mm)
END :
(“Mène”)
It begins with the throw of the jack until the throw of the last boule in play. A game is made up of several ends.
MINSTREL :
(“Ménestrel”)
Player know for “making music” and sowing doubt in the heads of opposing players.
SET THE TABLE :
(“Mettre la table”)
When the team’s pointer makes good points, the shooter uses this expression because he has put him in a good position.
ALL-ROUNDER :
(“Milieu”)
In a triples, he can act as both a pointer and a shooter. This player must demonstrate versatility and the ability to adapt to move from one technique to another during a game.
Versatile role.
MIXED :
(“Mixte”)
Competition where the team are made up of at least one female licensed and one male licensed.
BITING THE CIRCLE :
(“Mordre le cercle”)
When one or both feet are positioned on or outside the throwing circle.
SHOOT THE JACK / DROWN THE JACK :
(“Noyer le but”)
When the jack is sent out of bounds or is no longer visible from the circle :
• The end is canceled : If the two players or teams no longer have boules in their possession.
• A player or team scores : If a player or team still has one or more boules in the opponent no longer has any, the remaining boules turn into points.
QUOIT (MAKE A) :
(“Palet (faire un)”)
Shoot just in front of a boule and remove it while remaining less than 50cm from the jack.
PARISIAN (MAKE A) :
(“Parisienne (faire une”)
A player deliberately playing badly to make his team lose.
SHARE :
(“Partager”)
Action of sharing the winnings between opponents, by only playing the cups or the title at the end of the competition. Everything is done through an agreement between the players or teams concerned.
POTATO (MAKE A) :
(“Patate (faire une)”)
Said when a player points a boule that is much too short on the field in relation to the positioning of the entire game.
PETANQUE :
(“Pétanque”)
The term comes from France and the words “pieds tanqués”, or “pèstanquès”, which means “feet together” or “feet anchored”.
TO POINT :
(“Pointer”)
Throw the boule to get it as close as possible to the jack. The action of pointing is called “point” or “pointing”.
POINTER :
(“Pointeur / Pointeuse”)
It is the player whose objective is to place his boule as close as possible to the jack. This person must demonstrate finesse and good observation skills. Knowledge of the field is very important for the pointer. Whether it is the hardness, the type of surface or the inclination of the field, these are all elements that the pointer must take into account to maximize his throw and boule placement.
There are different throwing techniques that this role has : rolling shot, half-lob and the lob. Strategic role.
POOL :
(“Poule”)
During a competition, group which brings together three or four teams. The best two will qualify for the next round.
GROUP OF DEATH :
(“Poule de la mort”)
This term refers to a pool in a tournament exclusively featuring teams or players of the highest caliber. The competition is exceptionally intense, making qualifications particularly challenging and fiercely contested.
LUXURY POOL :
(“Poule de luxe”)
When a pool is made up of at least three high-caliber teams.
LOB / LEAD / SEND :
(“Porter / Plomber / Envoyer”)
Point by throwing the boule very high so that it rolls as little as possible when falling to the ground (we say we “knock the boule out”) This additional style requires great mastery.
WALLET (MAKE A) :
(“Portefeuille (faire un)”)
Said when you take 3 points in a end.
PUNTA PEBBLES :
(“Punta Cailloux”)
Field comprising large stones that deviate the trajectory of the boules. The french version of the expression is a play on words with the popular Punta Cana beaches.
PICK UP / SCRAPE :
(“Ramasser / Racler”)
Action of hitting a boule despite the throw being rathe short in front of the target.
RATTLE (PULL A) / RAFFLE (PULL A) / LITTLE RATTLE (SEND A) :
(“Raspaille (tirer à la) / Rafle (tirer à la) / Raspaillette (envoyer une)”)
Unlike “direct shot” shooting, it is the action of shooting a rolling boule before hitting the target boule(s). This technique is generally frowned upon by purists.
SLIT (MAKE A) :
(“Refente (faire une)”)
Clear the play by jostling a group of boules and hoping to get close to the jack.
GO IN TWO :
(“Rentrer en deux”)
Bring your boule and another closer to the jack, by pushing them after a shot or a strong point.
RECOVER THE POINT :
(“Reprendre le point”)
Place a boule while doing better that the opponent who had the point.
RETROPISSETTE :
(“Rétropissette”)
Pointing technique allowing you to overcome the irregularities of the field by giving the boule a retro effect.
ROLL (MAKE) / CASTER / BOWLING STYLE :
(“Rouler (faire) / Roulette / Style bowling”)
Pointing by throwing the boule with impact on the ground near the throwing circle, this causes the thrown boule to roll over a large area. This shot can be advantageous on grounds that are generally smooth and which respond poorly to lobed boules.
PURSE (MAKE A) :
(“Sac à main (faire un)”)
Said when you take 4 points in a end.
JUMP OVER (MAKE A) :
(“Sauté (faire une)”)
Shoot a boule that is a few centimetres behind another boule without it being touched. This throw of course requires absolute precision in terms of distance.
DISCOVER YOURSELF :
(“Se découvrir”)
Shoot too many boules, so as to expose yourself to taking a “big end” (several points scored) if the opposing team succeeds in its shots.
MINGLE :
(“Se mélanger”)
Points the boules so as to stick them to those of the opponent, whether in front, behind or on the sides.
BUILD A TEAM :
(“Se monter”)
Form a team to participate in a competition.
SERRER LE JEU :
(“Serrer le jeu”)
Point all the remaining boules with the best possible positioning. Most of the time, we close the game when we have not managed to shoot an opponent’s boule which is very close to the jack. We therefore resign ourselves to letting the end to the opponent while preventing them from scoring a lot of points.
TIGHTEN A BOULE :
(“Serrer une boule”)
When pointing, give a retro effect to the boule, so that it rolls less than a boule played “natural” (without spin). Players who master this technique are said to play “on the wrist” and those who best control this technique are said to “block” the boule (because when it falls, the boule is blocked since it advances very little).
BUTTERFLY STYLE :
(“Style papillon”)
Add a lot of retro effect to a throw (point or shot).
SUCHAUD TIME :
(“Suchaud time”)
This is the moment when everything is at stake, commonly called “money time” in other sports. Expression inspired by multiple world champion from France, Philippe Suchaud.
SINGLES / HEAD-TO-HEAD :
(“Tête-à-tête”)
Game of pétanque composed of two opposing players.
SHOT :
(“Tirer”)
Throw the boule to clear an opposing boule. In general, the drawn boule is lost, except in the cas of “perfect shot” or a “quoit”.
SHOT TO THE BUTT :
(“Tirer au cul”)
When two boules are stuck together (yours in front and the opponent’s behind), the shooter can throw at the one in front (yours) so that upon impact, the one behind (the opponent) is cleared and yours stays in place.
DIRECT HIT / SHOOTING FULL MOUTH :
(“Tirer au fer / Tirer pleine gueule”)
Throw a boule directly at the target boule. This is the “classic” way of shooting.
SHOOT INTO THE SCOPE :
(“Tirer dans la lunette”)
When a boule is shot towards two boules that are very close or stuck together and which can be moved with a single shot.
SHOT AHEAD :
(“Tirer devant”)
Throw a boule a very short distance in front of the target boule. This shot can be practiced on courts that do not “jump” (where the boules do not bounce on the ground after impact) or by shooters who throw their boule, with a specific trajectory or effect, so that it bounces very little.
SHOOTING THE JACK (WITH ALL THE DECLINATIONS OF “JACK”) :
(“Tirer le but (avec toutes les déclinaisons de “but” “ )
Sometimes, if a team is poorly engaged in a jack, it can try to shoot the jack to cancel it. It is then said that they shoot the jack.
SHOOT ON THE EAR / MAKE A “VAN GOGH” :
(“Tirer sur l’oreille / Faire une “Van Gogh” “)
Hit a boule on the side, so as to make it go sideways.
SHOOTER :
(“Tireur / Tireuse”)
He is the one who throws his boule aiming at the opposing players with the objective of taking them out of the game or keeping them as far away from the jack as possible.
The shooter can mainly perform two techniques : “perfect shot” or “raffle” shot.
Precision role.
CASH DRAWER (DOING THE) :
(“Tiroir-caisse "se faire le”)
Said when you take 5 or 6 points in an end.
TOMATO :
(“Tomate (une)”)
Annealed boule whose temper has been broken and therefore made the steel softer.
FALLING INTO THE FLOUR :
(“Tomber dans la farine”)
When the boule sent falls into a sandy area, considerably slowing down its rolling.
TURN :
(“Tourner”)
Change roles on the team during a game.
(ex: the shooter becomes the pointer and the pointer becomes the shooter)
SPIN A BOULE :
(“Tourner une boule”)
Throw the boule by giving it a sideways rotation effect using a movement of the fingers. Well mastered, this gesture is of great use when :
• A boule is “in full play” (when it is on the ideal trajectory which allows reaching the jack). In this case, the pointer sends his boule outside the ideal trajectory and “brings it back” towards the jack thanks to the effect created.
• The field is very difficult and data is rare. Sometimes the only acceptable data is not “in play” and the effect is necessary to “bring” the boule back to the jack.
TRIPLES / TRIPLET :
(“Triplette”)
• Set of three identical boules.
• This term also designates a team made up of three players (pointer, all-rounder, shooter). Each of them has two boules.
HOLE (MAKE A) :
(“Trou (faire un)”)
Shoot next to the target boule. Missed shot.
KILL THE DOG :
(“Tuer le chien”)
Unintentionally drawing a boule from your own team.
VAUCLUSIAN STYLE :
(“Vauclusienne (à la)”)
Competition formula with the particularity that the composition of the teams can be solo (such as simples), in doubles or in triples with a total of six boules per formation. All these types of teams compete in the same competition.
(ex: a solo player vs triples, doubles vs triples)
STEAL (MAKE A) :
(“Vol (faire un)”)
When a poorly played boule hits the jack, or unintentionally hits a well-aimed boule. So, we say that there is “theft” as soon as a poorly played boule manages to regain the point for its team. (You will often hear the other team say, “That’s stealing !”)