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nounnoun

il re

king

Uomo che governa un regno o uno stato, di solito per diritto di nascita.

Definition & meaning

Re means king: a male monarch who rules or has ruled a kingdom.

It can also be used figuratively for someone or something considered the best or most important in a field: “the king of rock.” In chess, it means the king piece.

Grammar & Word origin

Re is a masculine noun. It has the same form in the singular and plural: il re (“the king”), i re (“the kings”).

It comes from the Latin rēx, rēgis, meaning “king.” The Italian feminine equivalent is regina (“queen”).

Synonyms & antonyms

  • Synonyms: sovrano and monarca mean “sovereign” and “monarch.” Both are broader terms and need not refer specifically to a king.
  • Contrast: suddito means “subject,” someone under a monarch’s rule. It is a contextual contrast rather than a strict antonym.

Common phrases & collocations

  • re di Spagna — king of Spain
  • re del rock — king of rock
  • scacco al re — check, in chess

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Examples

Il re è arrivato ieri.noun

The king arrived yesterday.

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