2006-10-11 04:50:07 · 10 answers · asked by TISSUE BOX 2 in Sports ➔ Tennis
The answer above is one I've heard before - that the zero looks like an egg, or the French "l'oeuf."
Another popular theory is that it comes from "to play for the love of the game," meaning that you're playing for nothing and that the score doesn't matter.
Officially, there is no correct answer.
2006-10-11 04:53:27 · answer #1 · answered by Craig S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Used in tennis, meaning zero. Comes from the french word 'luv' meaning egg. As 0 is shaped like an egg the word luv is used.
2006-10-11 11:55:02 · answer #2 · answered by moghusai 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
luv in french means egg and an egg looks like a nil
2006-10-11 11:51:48 · answer #3 · answered by Very_Curious 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Isn't it something to do with the French word for egg - l'oef and nil / zero / nought looking like an egg.
2006-10-11 11:52:00 · answer #4 · answered by Smiler 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The definitive origin of the use of "love" for zero is not known but probably is derived from a popular saying about amateur sports[1][2]. It is possible that the use of "love" for zero is from the French word for an egg (l‘oeuf). This is a rather peculiar manner of saying 'zero', as an egg looks like the number zero. And the word "love" derived from "l‘oeuf" (pronounced 'lurf').
2006-10-11 11:52:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a bastardisation of the French word l'ouve(?). Looooooong ago when tennis started, it came to Britain via France. The French word for no-score in tennis was l'ouve(?), we just Anglised it to 'love'.
2006-10-11 11:53:55 · answer #6 · answered by Moorglademover 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Corruption of l'oeuf, the french for egg. An egg is oval like the symbol 0! Obvious innit.
2006-10-11 11:53:02 · answer #7 · answered by Atheling 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the 0 looks like an egg!
Simple (french!)
2006-10-11 11:51:31 · answer #8 · answered by 'Dr Greene' 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it's Nil by Mouth
2006-10-11 13:42:47 · answer #9 · answered by browneyed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because tennis is not like any other sport such as football or anything else. Its like when they say juice when the score is forty all.
2006-10-11 12:17:17 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋