reina
/REY-nah/
queen
The image shows a reina (queen), a female monarch.
reina(Noun)
queen
?A female monarch or ruler
queen
?The most powerful piece in chess
,queen
?The primary reproductive female in a colony of insects (e.g., queen bee)
,queen
?Figuratively, the best or most important woman in a group (e.g., 'prom queen')
📝 In Action
La reina de España saludó a la multitud.
A1The queen of Spain waved to the crowd.
En ajedrez, si pierdes la reina, es difícil ganar.
B1In chess, if you lose the queen, it's difficult to win.
Fue elegida la reina del carnaval.
B1She was chosen as the queen of the carnival.
La abeja reina puede poner miles de huevos al día.
B2The queen bee can lay thousands of eggs a day.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender: Rey vs. Reina
Spanish has specific words for male and female rulers. 'El rey' is the king, and 'la reina' is the queen. This is different from some English words where you might add 'female' (like 'female doctor').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the wrong gender
Mistake: "Mi país tiene un reina muy viejo."
Correction: Mi país tiene un rey muy viejo. Use 'rey' for a king (masculine) and 'reina' for a queen (feminine).
⭐ Usage Tips
Calling Someone 'Queen'
Just like in English, you can call a woman 'reina' as a term of endearment or to say she's the best at something. 'Eres la reina del pop' means 'You are the queen of pop.'
When a monarch rules, we say reina (he/she reigns).
reina(Verb)
he/she reigns
?The action of a monarch ruling
,it reigns
?Used for abstract ideas that are dominant, like 'silence reigns'
prevails
?When a certain feeling or state is the most noticeable
,predominates
?Similar to 'prevails', for a quality that is the most important
📝 In Action
En su ausencia, el caos reina en la oficina.
B1In his absence, chaos reigns in the office.
El silencio reina en el antiguo castillo.
B1Silence reigns in the old castle.
Actualmente, reina una nueva dinastía en ese país.
C1Currently, a new dynasty reigns in that country.
💡 Grammar Points
Is it a Person or an Action?
The word 'reina' can be the noun ('queen') or the verb ('he/she reigns'). The secret is the context. If it's about a person ('La reina...'), it's the noun. If it's about a situation ('El silencio reina...'), it's the verb.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Abstract Ideas
This verb form is perfect for sounding poetic or dramatic. It's often used with abstract concepts like 'paz' (peace), 'silencio' (silence), 'caos' (chaos), or 'confusión' (confusion) to say that feeling dominates a place.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: reina
Question 1 of 1
In the sentence 'En el jardín, la tranquilidad reina', what does 'reina' mean?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'reina' means 'queen' or 'reigns'?
Look at the words around it! If you see 'la' before it ('la reina'), it's almost always the noun 'the queen'. If an idea or a concept is doing the action (like 'el silencio reina'), then it's the verb 'it reigns'.
Can I use 'reina' to talk to a friend?
Yes, absolutely! In many Spanish-speaking countries, it's a common and affectionate way to address a female friend, similar to calling someone 'honey' or 'sweetie' in English. For example, 'Hola, reina, ¿cómo estás?'