A colorful storybook illustration of a duke, a dignified man wearing a red velvet mantle and a gold ducal coronet.

duque

DOO-keh

nounmB2

duke?high noble title

Also:nobleman?general term for a titled aristocrat

📝 In Action

El duque asistió a la ceremonia real con su esposa.

The duke attended the royal ceremony with his wife.

En la Edad Media, el duque controlaba un gran territorio llamado ducado.

In the Middle Ages, the duke controlled a large territory called a duchy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

noble (noble)
aristócrata (aristocrat)

Common Collocations

título de duque – title of duke
el duque consorte – the prince consort (or duke consort)

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Match

Since 'duque' refers to a man, you must use the masculine article 'el' and masculine adjectives with it. The feminine equivalent is 'duquesa'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing Genders

Mistake: "La duque (using the feminine article 'la')"

Correction: El duque (always use the masculine article 'el' for this word).

⭐ Usage Tips

Historical Context

You will most often encounter 'duque' when reading about history, especially European royalty and feudal systems.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: duque

Question 1 of 1

If 'duque' is a duke, what is 'duquesa'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

duquesa(duchess) - noun

ducado(dukedom / duchy) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'duque' an everyday word in modern Spanish?

No, it is not common in daily conversation. You typically hear or read it when talking about history, royal families, or specific noble titles.

What is the difference between a 'duque' and a 'rey' (king)?

A 'rey' (king) is the sovereign ruler of a country. A 'duque' (duke) is a high-ranking nobleman who holds a title below the king, often governing a specific territory (a 'ducado') but not ruling the entire country.