There's no "I" in "team".

This set phrase is often used to remind team members that they have to work together, and not be selfish.

It's based on a pun: when you spell the word "team", you don't use the letter "I'. On the other hand, the word "I" means "me". So this phrase means:

  • The team as a whole is important, not the individual members.
  • You don't use the letter "I" when you spell "team".

"There's no 'I' in 'team'" is very well-known. It's used a lot in team sports like soccer, basketball, etc. Most people are actually tired of hearing it, so don't be surprised if your teammates ignore you when you say this!

This phrase appears in these lessons: