Quick Answer:
The word “love” in tennis is most likely derived from the French word l’oeuf (meaning “egg”), whose round shape symbolizes zero. Over time, English players adapted l’oeuf into “love” to represent a score of zero. Another theory suggests it refers to playing “for the love of the game” when starting from nothing.
🐣 Origins of “Love” in Tennis
The most widely accepted explanation is that “love” comes from the French word l’oeuf, meaning “egg.”
Since an egg resembles the shape of zero, players began using the word to describe a score of nothing.
As tennis spread to English-speaking countries, l’oeuf morphed into “love.”
Alternative Explanations for “Love”
Another interpretation is more symbolic.
Players at zero points are still playing purely “for the love of the game.”
While this idea is appealing, historians tend to agree the French origin is the stronger explanation.
🔢 Why Is Zero Called Love in Tennis?
In tennis scoring, zero is never called “zero.”
Instead, it’s called “love.”
The reason is rooted in tradition and the sport’s history.
Saying “love” instead of zero quickly became standard worldwide, and the tradition has lasted for centuries.
Example of Love in Scoring
When a score is announced as “30–love,” it means one player has 30 points while the other has none.
This phrasing is universal in tennis matches, from casual games to the professional tours.
🎯 Why Is It Called 15-Love, 30-Love, and 40-Love?
The tennis scoring system goes 0, 15, 30, and 40.
When one player has no points, the word “love” is inserted.
- 15–love → the server has 15, the opponent has 0.
- 30–love → the server has 30, the opponent has 0.
- 40–love → the server has 40, the opponent has 0.
❓ Why Is It Called Love Instead of Zero?
The use of “love” instead of “zero” is mostly about tradition and cultural influence.
Tennis borrowed many of its terms from French, and when the game was adopted globally, the language stuck.
While “zero” would be more literal, “love” adds a unique flavor to tennis scoring and reflects the sport’s historical roots.
📜 A Tradition That Stuck
One reason tennis still uses the word “love” is the sport’s deep connection to tradition.
Tennis originated in France in the Middle Ages.
The origin of tennis scoring terms comes from those early versions of the game.
Many of the quirky words we still use today—love, deuce, and even the scoring system itself—were born there.
Unlike modern sports that adopted simple numbers, tennis held onto its old vocabulary, which gave the sport a unique character.
Why the Word Survived Over Time
Even today, fans and players enjoy these distinctive terms because they connect the modern game with its rich past.
When you hear “15–love” at Wimbledon or the US Open, you’re not just listening to a score.
You’re hearing a piece of history that’s been preserved for centuries.
Why the Quirky Terms Work
The unusual language also makes tennis memorable.
Words like “love” and “deuce” set the sport apart from others, and they’ve become part of its global identity.
That’s why even in casual matches, players rarely substitute “zero” for “love.”
📝 My First Experience Hearing “Love”
I remember the first time I heard “love” used in scoring, and I was completely confused.
At first, I thought it sounded strange—even a little cringe.
As I kept hearing it during matches, I could never quite get used to saying the word out loud.
Personally, I always felt it distracted me from focusing on my game and keeping my head clear.
Still, over time I understood it was just part of tennis tradition, and whether I liked the sound of it or not, it connected me to the history of the sport.
🔗 Related Tennis Terms: Love and Deuce
Tennis has other unusual terms besides “love.”
For example, deuce means a tied score at 40–40.
The word comes from the French phrase à deux, which means “to two”—signaling that a player must win by two clear points.
Together, “love” and “deuce” highlight the rich international history behind tennis’s unique scoring system.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is love used for zero in tennis?
Because it comes from the French word l’oeuf (egg), which resembles zero.
Q: Is the “love of the game” theory true?
It’s possible, but less historically supported than the French origin.
Q: Do other sports use “love” to mean zero?
No, it’s unique to tennis. Other sports simply use “zero” or “nil.”