Spanish Conversation · Level 21
90 words
Spanish word
rey
Pronunciation
IPA/rej/
Meaning
- masculine nounking
Example
El rey recibió al embajador.
The king received the ambassador.
More examples
El rey saludó a la multitud desde el balcón.
The king greeted the crowd from the balcony.
Core concept
Person who holds supreme authority in a kingdom.
Common phrases
el rey
the king
el rey de España
the king of Spain
Similar words
reina: Female sovereign who rules a kingdom and holds supreme authority.
monarca: Person who rules a state as sovereign, holding the office of monarch.
Definition in Spanish
Persona que tiene la máxima autoridad en un reino; también se usa figurativamente para referirse a alguien que destaca notablemente en un campo.
Word origin
Ultimately from Latin rex, regis, the form changed through medieval Romance (Old Spanish rei) to rey, maintaining the sense of the top sovereign.
Usage tips
- 'Rey' is related to Spanish real ('royal'), so real in names like Real Madrid means 'royal' rather than English 'real'.