- French
- Pétanque
- English
- Petanque / Boule
- Swedish
- Boule / Pétanque
The traditional French boules game. Players throw metal balls (boules) towards a small wooden target (cochonnet).
Glossary
Definitions and terminology for the Petanque Life platform — from pétanque rules to federation management.
42 terms · 7 categories
Sport Terms
12- French
- Cochonnet / But
- English
- Jack / Target ball
- Swedish
- Gris / Målboll
The small wooden target ball that players aim for. Also called the "jack" or "but".
- French
- Boule
- English
- Boule / Bowl
- Swedish
- Klot
The metal ball used to play pétanque. Players each throw 2 or 3 boules per end.
- French
- Mène
- English
- End / Round
- Swedish
- Omgång
A round of play in which all players throw their boules. A game typically lasts until 13 points.
- French
- Point
- English
- Point
- Swedish
- Poäng
A scoring unit awarded for each boule closer to the cochonnet than the opponent's closest boule.
- French
- Carreau
- English
- Perfect hit
- Swedish
- Carreau
A perfect strike that knocks an opponent's boule away while the shooter's boule replaces it.
- French
- Tir
- English
- Shoot
- Swedish
- Skjutning
A shot intended to knock the opponent's boule away from the cochonnet.
- French
- Point (verb)
- English
- Point / Place
- Swedish
- Lägga
To place a boule near the cochonnet through a measured, controlled throw.
- French
- Raspaille
- English
- Rolling shot
- Swedish
- Rull
A rolling shot played close to the ground to disturb the opponent's position.
- French
- Portée
- English
- Lob
- Swedish
- Lyft
A lobbed throw — the boule arcs through the air to land near the cochonnet.
- French
- Donnée
- English
- Landing spot
- Swedish
- Landningsplats
The landing spot a pointer aims for so the boule rolls to rest near the cochonnet.
- French
- Fanny
- English
- Fanny (13-0)
- Swedish
- Fanny
When a team loses 13–0 — traditionally requiring them to "kiss Fanny" as a humorous penalty.
| French | English | Swedish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pétanque | Petanque / Boule | Boule / Pétanque | The traditional French boules game. Players throw metal balls (boules) towards a small wooden target (cochonnet). |
| Cochonnet / But | Jack / Target ball | Gris / Målboll | The small wooden target ball that players aim for. Also called the "jack" or "but". |
| Boule | Boule / Bowl | Klot | The metal ball used to play pétanque. Players each throw 2 or 3 boules per end. |
| Mène | End / Round | Omgång | A round of play in which all players throw their boules. A game typically lasts until 13 points. |
| Point | Point | Poäng | A scoring unit awarded for each boule closer to the cochonnet than the opponent's closest boule. |
| Carreau | Perfect hit | Carreau | A perfect strike that knocks an opponent's boule away while the shooter's boule replaces it. |
| Tir | Shoot | Skjutning | A shot intended to knock the opponent's boule away from the cochonnet. |
| Point (verb) | Point / Place | Lägga | To place a boule near the cochonnet through a measured, controlled throw. |
| Raspaille | Rolling shot | Rull | A rolling shot played close to the ground to disturb the opponent's position. |
| Portée | Lob | Lyft | A lobbed throw — the boule arcs through the air to land near the cochonnet. |
| Donnée | Landing spot | Landningsplats | The landing spot a pointer aims for so the boule rolls to rest near the cochonnet. |
| Fanny | Fanny (13-0) | Fanny | When a team loses 13–0 — traditionally requiring them to "kiss Fanny" as a humorous penalty. |
Playing Positions
3- French
- Pointeur
- English
- Pointer / Placer
- Swedish
- Läggare
A player specialised in placing boules close to the cochonnet through accurate throws.
- French
- Tireur
- English
- Shooter
- Swedish
- Skytt
A player specialised in shooting — knocking opponents' boules away with powerful throws.
- French
- Milieu
- English
- Middle
- Swedish
- Mitt
A middle player who can both point and shoot, adapting to the team's tactical needs.
| French | English | Swedish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pointeur | Pointer / Placer | Läggare | A player specialised in placing boules close to the cochonnet through accurate throws. |
| Tireur | Shooter | Skytt | A player specialised in shooting — knocking opponents' boules away with powerful throws. |
| Milieu | Middle | Mitt | A middle player who can both point and shoot, adapting to the team's tactical needs. |
Team Formats
4- French
- Tête-à-tête
- English
- Singles
- Swedish
- Enkel
A 1-vs-1 format where each player throws 3 boules per end.
- French
- Doublette
- English
- Doubles
- Swedish
- Dubbel
A 2-vs-2 format where each player throws 3 boules per end.
- French
- Triplette
- English
- Triples
- Swedish
- Trippel
A 3-vs-3 format where each player throws 2 boules per end. The most common competitive format.
- French
- Mixte
- English
- Mixed
- Swedish
- Mixat
A mixed-gender team format, typically with one player of each gender per side.
| French | English | Swedish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tête-à-tête | Singles | Enkel | A 1-vs-1 format where each player throws 3 boules per end. |
| Doublette | Doubles | Dubbel | A 2-vs-2 format where each player throws 3 boules per end. |
| Triplette | Triples | Trippel | A 3-vs-3 format where each player throws 2 boules per end. The most common competitive format. |
| Mixte | Mixed | Mixat | A mixed-gender team format, typically with one player of each gender per side. |
Competition
7- French
- Concours
- English
- Tournament / Competition
- Swedish
- Tävling
A tournament or competition. Can be open, qualifying, or invitational.
- French
- Championnat
- English
- Championship
- Swedish
- Mästerskap
A championship — typically a multi-stage tournament leading to a national or international title.
- French
- Poule
- English
- Pool / Group
- Swedish
- Grupp / Pool
A pool or group of teams that play a round-robin before knockout stages.
- French
- Tirage au sort
- English
- Draw
- Swedish
- Lottning
The random draw that determines initial match-ups in a tournament.
- French
- Tableau
- English
- Bracket
- Swedish
- Slutspelsträd
The bracket diagram showing knockout-stage progression in a tournament.
- French
- Graphiqueur
- English
- Control table operator
- Swedish
- Tävlingsledare
The operator at the control table who records match results and manages the tournament bracket.
- French
- Buvette
- English
- Bar / Refreshments
- Swedish
- Servering
The on-site bar/refreshments area at a tournament venue.
| French | English | Swedish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concours | Tournament / Competition | Tävling | A tournament or competition. Can be open, qualifying, or invitational. |
| Championnat | Championship | Mästerskap | A championship — typically a multi-stage tournament leading to a national or international title. |
| Poule | Pool / Group | Grupp / Pool | A pool or group of teams that play a round-robin before knockout stages. |
| Tirage au sort | Draw | Lottning | The random draw that determines initial match-ups in a tournament. |
| Tableau | Bracket | Slutspelsträd | The bracket diagram showing knockout-stage progression in a tournament. |
| Graphiqueur | Control table operator | Tävlingsledare | The operator at the control table who records match results and manages the tournament bracket. |
| Buvette | Bar / Refreshments | Servering | The on-site bar/refreshments area at a tournament venue. |
Organization
9- French
- FIPJP
- English
- FIPJP
- Swedish
- FIPJP
Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal — the world governing body for the sport.
- French
- CEP
- English
- CEP
- Swedish
- CEP
Confédération Européenne de Pétanque — the European continental confederation.
- French
- Fédération
- English
- Federation
- Swedish
- Förbund
A national or international governing body that regulates the sport in its territory.
- French
- Ligue
- English
- League / Region
- Swedish
- Region / Liga
A regional federation level — typically the largest administrative subdivision below national.
- French
- Comité
- English
- Committee / District
- Swedish
- Distrikt / Kommitté
A district or sub-federation level — the administrative layer between clubs and the national federation.
- French
- Club
- English
- Club
- Swedish
- Förening / Klubb
A local pétanque organisation where players hold licences, train, and compete.
- French
- Licence
- English
- License
- Swedish
- Licens
A player's annual registration with a federation, required to compete in official events.
- French
- Mutation
- English
- Transfer
- Swedish
- Övergång
A player's transfer of licence from one club to another, subject to federation transfer rules.
- French
- ITC
- English
- ITC
- Swedish
- ITC
International Transfer Certificate — required when a player changes federation between countries.
| French | English | Swedish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIPJP | FIPJP | FIPJP | Fédération Internationale de Pétanque et Jeu Provençal — the world governing body for the sport. |
| CEP | CEP | CEP | Confédération Européenne de Pétanque — the European continental confederation. |
| Fédération | Federation | Förbund | A national or international governing body that regulates the sport in its territory. |
| Ligue | League / Region | Region / Liga | A regional federation level — typically the largest administrative subdivision below national. |
| Comité | Committee / District | Distrikt / Kommitté | A district or sub-federation level — the administrative layer between clubs and the national federation. |
| Club | Club | Förening / Klubb | A local pétanque organisation where players hold licences, train, and compete. |
| Licence | License | Licens | A player's annual registration with a federation, required to compete in official events. |
| Mutation | Transfer | Övergång | A player's transfer of licence from one club to another, subject to federation transfer rules. |
| ITC | ITC | ITC | International Transfer Certificate — required when a player changes federation between countries. |
Officials
4- French
- Arbitre
- English
- Umpire / Referee
- Swedish
- Domare
An umpire/referee who enforces rules and resolves disputes during matches.
- French
- Jury
- English
- Jury
- Swedish
- Jury
A panel that adjudicates appeals against on-court umpire decisions in major competitions.
- French
- Délégué
- English
- Delegate
- Swedish
- Delegat
A federation delegate who oversees the regulatory compliance of a tournament.
- French
- Directeur de jeu
- English
- Tournament Director
- Swedish
- Tävlingsledare
The tournament director — responsible for the overall organisation and conduct of a competition.
| French | English | Swedish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arbitre | Umpire / Referee | Domare | An umpire/referee who enforces rules and resolves disputes during matches. |
| Jury | Jury | Jury | A panel that adjudicates appeals against on-court umpire decisions in major competitions. |
| Délégué | Delegate | Delegat | A federation delegate who oversees the regulatory compliance of a tournament. |
| Directeur de jeu | Tournament Director | Tävlingsledare | The tournament director — responsible for the overall organisation and conduct of a competition. |
Disciplines
3- French
- Pétanque
- English
- Pétanque
- Swedish
- Pétanque
Pétanque as a formal discipline — fixed-circle throwing on natural surfaces.
- French
- Jeu Provençal
- English
- Jeu Provençal
- Swedish
- Jeu Provençal
A discipline allowing 1-step-and-throw motion, played on longer pitches than pétanque.
- French
- Sport-Boules (Lyonnaise)
- English
- Sport-Boules (Lyonnaise)
- Swedish
- Sport-Boules (Lyonnaise)
Sport-Boules (Lyonnaise) — a related discipline using larger balls on prepared lanes.
| French | English | Swedish | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pétanque | Pétanque | Pétanque | Pétanque as a formal discipline — fixed-circle throwing on natural surfaces. |
| Jeu Provençal | Jeu Provençal | Jeu Provençal | A discipline allowing 1-step-and-throw motion, played on longer pitches than pétanque. |
| Sport-Boules (Lyonnaise) | Sport-Boules (Lyonnaise) | Sport-Boules (Lyonnaise) | Sport-Boules (Lyonnaise) — a related discipline using larger balls on prepared lanes. |
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