What Does Love Mean In Tennis? The Ultimate Guide

You’re sitting courtside, the sun is out, and the gentle thwack of the ball is rhythmic. The umpire calls out the score: “Thirty–love.” You smile, appreciating the poetic sound, but a small part of you wonders… what on earth does that actually mean? In a world where love is the most profound human connection, why does it signify absolutely nothing in this sport?

Welcome to the beautiful, baffling lexicon of tennis. If you’ve ever found yourself confused by the scoring, you’re not alone. The term “love” is one of the most charming and curious aspects of the game. It’s a word loaded with emotion, yet here it represents a blank slate, a big fat zero. This article will serve as your personal guide, unraveling the history, meaning, and quirky charm behind the question, what does love mean in tennis. Let’s dive into the story of how a word so full of heart came to mean nothing at all.

The Basic Answer: Love Equals Zero “What Does Love Mean In Tennis”

Before we get into the “why,” let’s be crystal clear on the “what.” In tennis scoring:

• Love means zero. It’s that simple.
• When a game begins, the score is announced as “love-all,” meaning both players have zero points.
• If a player fails to score a point in a game, they are said to have lost that game “to love.” For example, a 40-0 scoreline is often read as “forty–love.”
• This applies to games and sets as well. A set won 6-0 is called a “love set.”

So, the next time you hear “fifteen–love,” you’ll know one player has 15 points and the other has yet to get on the board. It’s the sport’s unique way of saying “zip,” “nil,” or “nada.”

A Match Point of Theories: Why Do We Call It “Love”?

The exact origin is shrouded in a bit of mystery, lost to the annals of sporting history. However, linguists and historians have a few compelling theories that attempt to explain this peculiar terminology.

Theory 1: The French Connection (L’oeuf)

This is the most popular and widely accepted theory. The word “love” is thought to be derived from the French word “l’oeuf,” which means “the egg.” The shape of a zero is notably oval, much like an egg. It’s believed that English speakers heard French players or officials using “l’oeuf” to denote a zero score and, over time, anglicized it to the familiar word “love.”

This theory gains credibility when you consider other sports. In cricket, a player who scores zero is said to have scored a “duck’s egg,” which was later shortened to just “duck.” The concept of using an egg to symbolize zero has clear precedent.

Theory 2: Playing for Love

Another theory suggests a more philosophical origin. The phrase “to play for love” was used in the 18th and 19th centuries to mean playing for the sheer love of the game, rather than for money or any monetary stake. In this context, a player who scored “love” was playing for nothing but the passion of the sport—their score was “for love.”

This idea connects the concept of zero to a pure, non-monetary motive. As one discussion on Reddit’s etymology forum explores, this explanation, while romantic, is considered less likely by some scholars than the French “l’oeuf” theory.

Theory 3: A Dutch Influence?

A less common theory points to the Dutch word “lof,” which means honor. The idea is that a player with zero still has their honor to play for. However, this theory doesn’t have as much traction or evidence behind it as the French connection.

While we may never know the absolute truth, the “l’oeuf” theory remains the most plausible and celebrated explanation for this quirky piece of sporting jargon.

How “Love” Fits into the Broader Tennis Scoring System

Understanding “love” is just the first step in deciphering tennis scoring. The entire system can seem bizarrely illogical at first glance. Points aren’t counted 1, 2, 3, 4. Instead, it goes 15, 30, 40, game. Let’s break it down.

A standard game is scored as follows:

But what happens if both players reach 40? This is where another famous term comes in: deuce. At 40-40, the score is not called “40-all” but “deuce.” From deuce, a player must win two consecutive points to win the game. The first point after deuce gives that player an “advantage” (often called “ad in” or “ad out”). If they win the next point, they win the game. If they lose it, the score returns to deuce.

This complex system, combined with the use of “love,” makes tennis uniquely charming and, frankly, a bit confusing for newcomers. As BBC Bitesize explains, it’s a system steeped in history that has stubbornly refused to modernize.

The Cultural Impact: “Love” Beyond the Court

The term has transcended the sport and entered our everyday language and pop culture. The phrase “love means nothing” is a well-known tennis pun, famously used by player-turned-commentator Bud Collins and even as the title of a song by the band DIIV.

This duality of the word—representing both everything and nothing—creates a rich ground for metaphor. In tennis, you start with love (zero), you fight for every point, and you can experience a devastating loss of love (a bagel, or 6-0 set). It’s a narrative of effort, struggle, and triumph that mirrors life itself, a theme we often explore in our Love & Relationships section.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What does “30 love” mean in tennis?
A: “30 love” means one player has 30 points (two points scored) and the other player has zero points (“love”).

Q: Why is the scoring in tennis so weird (15, 30, 40, game)?
A: The origins are medieval, with theories suggesting it was based on clock faces or French numerology. The number 45 was eventually shortened to 40 for ease of calling, cementing the sequence we know today.

Q: Is “love” used in any other sports?
A: While primarily a tennis term, you might occasionally hear it in other racket sports like badminton or table tennis, but its home is undoubtedly on the tennis court.

Q: What’s the difference between ‘love’ and ‘deuce’?
A: Love means zero. Deuce is the term for a tied score of 40-40. It signifies a critical juncture in a game where a player must win by two points.

Conclusion: The Love of the Game

So, what does love mean in tennis? It’s a story of linguistic evolution, cultural exchange, and sporting tradition. It’s a testament to the game’s long and storied history, a quirky artifact that makes tennis uniquely endearing. From the French “l’oeuf” to the philosophical “playing for love,” this small word carries the weight of centuries on its shoulders.

The next time you hear “love–fifteen,” you can appreciate it not as a confusing jumble of numbers and emotions, but as a nod to the sport’s rich heritage. It’s a reminder that even from nothing (love), something beautiful and competitive can grow.

Did you find this guide helpful? What other curious aspects of love and relationships—whether in sports or in life—puzzle you? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let’s keep the conversation going! For more insights into the language of life and love, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Pinterest.