This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Sports / Fitness / Recreation

pion

English translation: Key Player; Best performing player OR Valuable player

12:44 Feb 21, 2008
French to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Sports / Fitness / Recreation / football (soccer)
French term or phrase: pion
In my type of sport a "pion" is a pawn. Does it mean anything special in football, or just a player, or what?

Context: "Priver le club XYZ FC de ces trois pions majeurs risquerait de causer des inconvénients quasi insurmontables".
Richard Benham
France
Local time: 18:17
English translation:Key Player; Best performing player OR Valuable player
Explanation:
In chess it is indeed a pawn. In football it can indeed be a key player or a valuable player. In basketabll the Americans have the expression MVP (most valuable player). Key player is more widely used. Best performing player is also possible.
Selected response from:

Gad Kohenov
Israel
Local time: 19:17
Grading comment
Actually, nobody seems to have noticed the question. I was looking to check whether this term had a more specific meaning, not for suggestions for an English wording, of which there is a plethora of obvious possibilities, assuming it just means an important player. Anyway, the deadline has been and gone (and I submitted the translation with an hour to spare), and there is therefore no point in waiting for further suggestions.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1Key Player; Best performing player OR Valuable player
Gad Kohenov
5star / key / influentialplayers
Chris Hall
3Kingpin
Terry Richards


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Key Player; Best performing player OR Valuable player


Explanation:
In chess it is indeed a pawn. In football it can indeed be a key player or a valuable player. In basketabll the Americans have the expression MVP (most valuable player). Key player is more widely used. Best performing player is also possible.

Gad Kohenov
Israel
Local time: 19:17
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in HebrewHebrew
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Actually, nobody seems to have noticed the question. I was looking to check whether this term had a more specific meaning, not for suggestions for an English wording, of which there is a plethora of obvious possibilities, assuming it just means an important player. Anyway, the deadline has been and gone (and I submitted the translation with an hour to spare), and there is therefore no point in waiting for further suggestions.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marta Scott: In my experience of listening to the news in French over the years, I would also interpret this as "best player" or "key player" or similar.
5 mins
  -> Merci!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Kingpin


Explanation:
Another option

Terry Richards
France
Local time: 18:17
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Gad Kohenov: According to Babylon kingpin is good in other cases, not in sports. Reminds me of big enchilada, top honcho etc.
7 mins
  -> I get 5670 ghits on the exact phrase "kingpin of the team"
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
star / key / influentialplayers


Explanation:
Have a great knowledge in football. Sentence translates as :
"To deprive the club of XYZ FC of these three kPriver le club XYZ FC de ces trois pions majeurs risquerait de causer des inconvénients quasi insurmontables".




--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 44 mins (2008-02-21 13:28:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry didn't finish properly.
"To deprive .......... FC of these three star / key / influential players would risk causing almost irreparable damage to the club".

Chris Hall
Local time: 17:17
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search