meepleä

Meeple are small, stylized wooden figures commonly used as player tokens in modern board games. They typically represent a person or character and are characterized by a distinctive T-shaped body, a round head, and stubby arms and legs. The term "meeple" is a portmanteau of "my" and "people," reflecting their role as representations of individual players.

The most iconic meeple design originates from the German game Carcassonne, first published in 2000. In Carcassonne, players use meeples to claim features on the game board, such as cities, roads, and cloisters. The simple yet effective design of the meeple quickly became popular, and they have since been adopted by numerous other board game publishers.

Meeples come in a wide variety of colors, allowing players to easily distinguish their pieces. Beyond the standard human-like form, many games feature specialized meeples that reflect the theme of the game. These can include animals, fantastical creatures, or other thematic shapes, though they often retain a simplified, iconic silhouette. The versatility and charming aesthetic of meeples have contributed significantly to the aesthetic appeal and widespread popularity of modern board games. They are now a recognizable symbol of the hobby.