German word

Königin

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈkøːnɪgɪn/

Meaning

  • feminine nounqueen

Example

Früher herrschten viele Königinnen in verschiedenen Staaten.

In the past, many queens ruled in various countries.

Illustration for Königin (queen)

More examples

Die Königin von England besuchte die Stadt.

The queen of England visited the city.

Core concept

A crowned woman stands at the center of a realm, while the same title can name the reproductive female at the center of a bee colony.

Common phrases

  • die Königin von England

    the queen of England

  • die Königin des Landes

    the queen of the country

Similar words

König: A male monarch who rules a country or kingdom.
Herrscherin: A woman who exercises actual power over a territory or group.
Monarchin: A female ruler who serves as head of state under a monarchy.
Gemahlin: A monarch's wife or consort who appears in official public events.

Definition in German

Weibliche Herrscherin in einem Staat; grammatisch die weibliche Form von König

Word origin

Königin is the feminine form of König, formed with the German feminine suffix -in and descended from Old High German kuningīn.

Usage tips

  • Königin is feminine, so its article is die and its plural is Königinnen; Bienenkönigin makes the bee meaning explicit.

Other meanings

  • queen beenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word