- Alone (Loner)
- A declaration by the maker to play the hand without their partner. The partner sits out. Winning all 5 tricks alone scores 4 points instead of the usual 2 for a march.
- Bower
- One of the two highest trump cards. See Right Bower and Left Bower.
- Call
- To name a suit as trump in the second round of bidding (after the face-up card is turned down). "I'll call clubs" means the player is declaring clubs as trump.
- Cross-Suit
- Naming a suit of the opposite color from the turned-down card. Cross-suit calls are generally weaker than next-suit calls because the bower advantage does not apply.
- Dealer
- The player who deals 5 cards to each player and turns up the top kitty card. The dealer has the advantage of picking up the face-up card if trump is ordered up. The deal rotates clockwise after each hand.
- Defenders
- The team that did not call trump. Their goal is to take 3 or more tricks to euchre the makers and score 2 points.
- Euchred
- When the making team fails to take at least 3 tricks. The defending team scores 2 points. Being euchred is a significant penalty and should be avoided by only calling trump with strong hands.
- Follow Suit
- The requirement to play a card of the same suit that was led, if you have one. If you cannot follow suit, you may play any card including trump. The Left Bower follows the trump suit, not its printed suit.
- Kitty
- The 4 cards remaining after the deal. The top card is turned face up to propose trump. If trump is ordered up, the dealer takes the face-up card and discards one card to the kitty. The kitty cards are not seen by any player.
- Lead
- To play the first card of a trick. The winner of the previous trick leads the next one. The player left of the dealer leads the first trick of the hand.
- Left Bower
- The Jack of the same-color suit as trump. For example, if hearts is trump, the Jack of diamonds is the Left Bower. It is the second-highest trump card and is considered part of the trump suit for all purposes.
- Makers
- The team that called trump. They need at least 3 tricks to score. If they fail, they are euchred.
- March
- Taking all 5 tricks in a hand. A march scores 2 points for the making team (4 points if going alone).
- Next Suit
- The same-color suit as the turned-down card. For example, if the turned-down card was a spade, the next suit is clubs. Calling next is often strategically strong because the Left Bower of the turned-down suit becomes the Right Bower of the next suit.
- Order Up
- To accept the face-up card as trump during the first round of bidding. When ordered up, the dealer picks up the face-up card and discards one card from their hand.
- Pass
- To decline to order up (round 1) or name trump (round 2). Passing gives the decision to the next player.
- Pick Up
- When the dealer takes the face-up card into their hand after trump is ordered up. The dealer must discard one card in exchange.
- Right Bower
- The Jack of the trump suit. It is the highest card in the game, beating all other cards including Aces. Holding the Right Bower guarantees at least one trick.
- Stick the Dealer
- A popular rule requiring the dealer to name trump if all other players pass in both rounds. This prevents re-deals and keeps the game moving. The dealer must choose a suit even with a weak hand.
- Trick
- A round of play where each player contributes one card. The highest trump played wins, or if no trump is played, the highest card of the led suit wins. There are 5 tricks per hand in Euchre.
- Trump
- The suit designated as the most powerful for the current hand. Any trump card beats any non-trump card. The trump suit has 7 cards: Right Bower, Left Bower, A, K, Q, 10, 9.
- Turn Down
- When all four players pass on the face-up card in round 1, the card is turned face down. A second round of bidding begins where players may name any suit other than the turned-down suit as trump.
