German word

König

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkøːnɪç/

Meaning

  • masculine nounking

Example

Der König trägt eine Krone.

The king is wearing a crown.

Illustration for König (king)

More examples

Der König von England spricht mit dem Volk.

The king of England speaks with the people.

Core concept

A crowned ruler stands at the symbolic center of a realm, and the same label can mark someone or something treated as supreme.

Common phrases

  • der König von England

    the king of England

  • der König und die Königin

    the king and the queen

Similar words

Königin: A female monarch who governs a country or territory.
Monarch: A reigning head of state within a monarchical system.
Staatsoberhaupt: An official figure who represents a country at the highest level.

Definition in German

Eine Person, die als souveräner Monarch eines Landes anerkannt ist und den Titel König führt.

Word origin

König is inherited from Old High German kuning and Proto-Germanic *kuningaz, the same Germanic source family as English king.

Usage tips

  • König is masculine, with the plural Könige and the genitive singular Königs.

Other meanings

  • monarchnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word