How to Say "king" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “king” is “rey” — use 'rey' when referring to a male monarch or ruler, the king in chess, or figuratively as the best or most important person in a field..
rey
/rrey//rei̯/
Examples
El rey de España se llama Felipe VI.
The king of Spain is named Felipe VI.
La corona del rey era de oro puro.
The king's crown was made of pure gold.
Los Reyes Magos traen regalos a los niños el 6 de enero.
The Three Wise Men (literally, 'Magic Kings') bring gifts to children on January 6th.
En ajedrez, si pierdes tu rey, pierdes el juego.
In chess, if you lose your king, you lose the game.
Feminine and Plural Forms
The female version is 'reina' (queen). For the plural, 'reyes' can mean 'kings,' but it can also mean 'the king and queen' together, just like 'padres' can mean 'parents'.
Capitalization
Mistake: “El Rey de España es Felipe. / El rey Felipe es de España.”
Correction: Use a capital letter for 'Rey' only when it's used as a formal title without the name (e.g., 'el Rey viajará...') or right before the name ('el Rey Felipe VI'). In general conversation, it's lowercase: 'El rey vive en un palacio'.
rey
/rrey//rei̯/
Examples
En ajedrez, si pierdes tu rey, pierdes el juego.
In chess, if you lose your king, you lose the game.
El rey de España se llama Felipe VI.
The king of Spain is named Felipe VI.
La corona del rey era de oro puro.
The king's crown was made of pure gold.
Los Reyes Magos traen regalos a los niños el 6 de enero.
The Three Wise Men (literally, 'Magic Kings') bring gifts to children on January 6th.
Feminine and Plural Forms
The female version is 'reina' (queen). For the plural, 'reyes' can mean 'kings,' but it can also mean 'the king and queen' together, just like 'padres' can mean 'parents'.
Capitalization
Mistake: “El Rey de España es Felipe. / El rey Felipe es de España.”
Correction: Use a capital letter for 'Rey' only when it's used as a formal title without the name (e.g., 'el Rey viajará...') or right before the name ('el Rey Felipe VI'). In general conversation, it's lowercase: 'El rey vive en un palacio'.
rey
/rrey//rei̯/
Examples
Michael Jordan es el rey del baloncesto.
Michael Jordan is the king of basketball.
El rey de España se llama Felipe VI.
The king of Spain is named Felipe VI.
La corona del rey era de oro puro.
The king's crown was made of pure gold.
Los Reyes Magos traen regalos a los niños el 6 de enero.
The Three Wise Men (literally, 'Magic Kings') bring gifts to children on January 6th.
Feminine and Plural Forms
The female version is 'reina' (queen). For the plural, 'reyes' can mean 'kings,' but it can also mean 'the king and queen' together, just like 'padres' can mean 'parents'.
Capitalization
Mistake: “El Rey de España es Felipe. / El rey Felipe es de España.”
Correction: Use a capital letter for 'Rey' only when it's used as a formal title without the name (e.g., 'el Rey viajará...') or right before the name ('el Rey Felipe VI'). In general conversation, it's lowercase: 'El rey vive en un palacio'.
dama
DAH-mah/ˈda.ma/
Examples
Mi ficha se convirtió en dama y ahora puedo moverme hacia atrás.
My piece became a king, and now I can move backward.
Para hacer una dama, tienes que llegar a la última fila del tablero.
To make a king (crowned piece), you have to reach the back row of the board.
Double Meaning in Games
Notice how 'dama' means 'Queen' in chess but 'King' (the promoted piece) in checkers. Context is everything when talking about board games!
Confusing 'rey' and 'dama' in games
Related Translations
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