Inklingo

How to Say "sovereign" in Spanish

English → Spanish

rey

/rrey//rei̯/

nounA1general
Use 'rey' when referring to the supreme male ruler of a kingdom, like the current king of Spain.
A man wearing a golden crown and a regal red cloak, sitting on a simple throne, representing a monarch.

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.

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'.

emperador

em-peh-rah-DOR/empeɾaˈðoɾ/

nounA2general
Use 'emperador' for the ruler of a large and diverse empire, implying a greater scope of power than a king.
A stern man wearing a golden crown and purple robes sits regally on a large stone throne.

Examples

El emperador gobernó el vasto imperio durante cuarenta años.

The emperor ruled the vast empire for forty years.

La caída del emperador marcó el fin de una era.

The fall of the emperor marked the end of an era.

Gender Pair

The feminine equivalent is 'emperatriz' (empress). Remember to change the article ('el' or 'la') to match the gender.

Confusing Titles

Mistake: “Using 'rey' (king) when referring to the ruler of an 'imperio' (empire).”

Correction: An 'emperador' rules an 'imperio,' which is generally a larger and more powerful domain than a 'reino' (kingdom) ruled by a 'rey.'

príncipe

PREEN-see-peh/ˈpɾinθipe/

nounA1general
Use 'príncipe' for the ruler of a smaller territory like a principality, or for a male heir to a throne who is not yet the reigning monarch.
A young boy with short hair wearing a small gold crown and a red velvet royal cloak, standing regally.

Examples

El príncipe heredero asistió a la ceremonia.

The crown prince attended the ceremony.

En los cuentos de hadas, la princesa se casa con un príncipe valiente.

In fairy tales, the princess marries a brave prince.

Masculine Noun

'Príncipe' is a masculine noun and always takes masculine articles, like 'el príncipe' or 'un príncipe'.

Distinguishing Kingdom vs. Empire

Learners often confuse 'rey' (king) and 'emperador' (emperor). Remember that 'rey' is for a kingdom, while 'emperador' implies a larger, more powerful, and often multi-ethnic domain like an empire. 'Príncipe' is typically for a smaller state or a prince who is not yet king.

Related Translations

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