Spanish · People & Family
"King" in Spanish: rey
el rey
King is el rey. Use it for monarchs in history and stories. Playing cards also say el rey. The feminine pair is la reina.
How to pronounce rey: audio and sound guideChildren's story
El rey vive en un castillo grande.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce rey
Say it
reh-ee
/rei/
reh-ee. Almost one syllable. Soft r at the start.
"King" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| el rey | the king Monarchs and fairy tales. | Monarchs and fairy tales. |
| rey de España | king of Spain Historical or news talk. | Historical or news talk. |
| el rey de copas | the king of cups Card games. | Card games. |
| vivir como un rey | to live like a king Everyday exaggeration. | Everyday exaggeration. |
How to use rey in real life
- 1Children's story
El rey vive en un castillo grande.
The king lives in a big castle.
Rey is the basic storybook word.
- 2History class
Ese rey firmó la nueva ley.
That king signed the new law.
Rey for a historical monarch.
- 3Card game
Tengo el rey de oros en la mano.
I have the king of coins in my hand.
Card decks use rey.
Mistakes English speakers make with rey
Incorrect: El king llega al trono.
Correct: El rey llega al trono.
Say rey, not English king.
Incorrect: La rey gobernó muchos años.
Correct: El rey gobernó muchos años.
Rey is masculine. Use el rey.
Good to know
Good to knowIn Spanish-speaking America, rey mostly appears in stories, cards, and news about foreign monarchies. Daily speech rarely needs the word.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Reading a picture book together
ChatPal
Mira: el rey abre la puerta dorada.
Look: the king opens the golden door.
You
¿El rey busca a la reina?
Is the king looking for the queen?
ChatPal
Sí. En la página siguiente.
Yes. On the next page.
You
Qué cuento tan bonito.
What a lovely story.
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 Spanish
Gender of rey?
Masculine: el rey. The queen is la reina.
Plural of king?
Los reyes. It can also mean the royal couple.
King on cards?
El rey de oros, copas, espadas, or bastos.
King vs kingdom?
Person: rey. Kingdom: reino.
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