Italian · People & Family
"King" in Italian: re
il re
King in Italian is il re (eel REH), masculine. Il re di… names a king of a place. In chess, il re is the king piece. Keep re as its own word—regina is queen, not king.
Museum label
Il re abitava in questo castello.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce re
Say it
eel REH
/il ˈre/
Re is a short REH, like English ray without the y glide. Il re is eel REH.
"King" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| il re | the king Royalty, cards, chess. | Royalty, cards, chess. |
| re di… | king of… Titles. | Titles. |
| il re degli animali | king of the animals Lion phrase. | Lion phrase. |
| scacco al re | check (to the king) Chess. | Chess. |
How to use re in real life
- 1Museum label
Il re abitava in questo castello.
The king lived in this castle.
Il re as own word.
- 2Chess lesson
Muovi il re solo di una casa.
Move the king only one square.
Chess piece.
- 3Fairy tale
C'era una volta un re molto giusto.
Once upon a time there was a very fair king.
Storybook re.
Mistakes English speakers make with re
Incorrect: La re è arrivato.
Correct: Il re è arrivato.
Re is masculine: il re.
Incorrect: La regina (when you mean king)
Correct: Il re
Regina is queen; the headword is il re.
Good to know
Modern Italy is a republic, so il re lives mostly in history books, chess, cards, and fairy tales. Tour guides still say il re when pointing at royal apartments—keep the short word clear so it does not disappear into longer forms.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Visiting a royal palace museum
ChatPal
In questa sala dormiva il re.
The king slept in this room.
You
Il re aveva una vista sul giardino?
Did the king have a view of the garden?
ChatPal
Sì, e il trono del re è nella sala successiva.
Yes, and the king's throne is in the next hall.
You
Andiamo a vederlo prima che chiudano.
Let's go see it before they close.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"King" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "King" in Italian
How do you say king?
Il re.
Queen?
La regina—different word.
Chess?
Il re is the king piece.
Plural?
I re (same form).
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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