What Is Rock Paper Scissors Called?
Mostly exactly what it looks like. Occasionally something far stranger.
The Short Answer
In most places, Rock Paper Scissors is called some local-language version of the three throws. That is the dominant pattern worldwide. The unusual cases are the ones people remember, especially Roshambo, but they are not the global default.
If you are asking what the game is called in general, the safest answer is simple: it is usually named after the three gestures themselves. If you are asking about the weird American alternate name, that is a different question, and it leads straight into the Roshambo rabbit hole.
The Common Pattern
Most languages keep the naming direct. They describe the visible objects or symbols in the game rather than inventing a separate brand name for it. That is one reason the game travels so well. You do not need much cultural translation when the hand shapes are doing most of the work.
Examples Around the World
- English: Rock Paper Scissors
- Japanese: Jan-ken
- French: Pierre-feuille-ciseaux
- Spanish: Piedra, papel o tijera
- German: Schere, Stein, Papier or regional variants
- Korean: Gawi-bawi-bo and related forms
These names are not always exact literal twins, but the pattern is obvious: most traditions keep the name tied closely to the game itself, not to a person, slogan, or mysterious historical label.
What About Roshambo?
Roshambo is the best-known alternate English name, especially in parts of the United States. It is real, common in some regions, and still not the main global answer to this question. If anything, it is the exception people remember because it sounds like it should come with a dramatic backstory.
It probably does not mean what most people think it means. The detailed version of that story lives in Why Is Rock Paper Scissors Mistakenly Called Roshambo?and the broader naming history is covered in Roshambo.
Why the Names Differ
The game spread across cultures over a long period, and every culture made small adjustments to how it was taught, counted, and named. Some kept the throws literal. Some condensed the chant. Some created regional slang that stuck. The naming variation is part of the game's history, not a sign that the game itself changes much from place to place.
The Useful Answer
If someone asks what Rock Paper Scissors is called, the most useful response is: usually some local-language version of Rock, Paper, and Scissors, with a few regional alternatives like Roshambo.
If they want the naming story, send them deeper into the cluster. That is where the real argument starts.