You’ll find it in fairy tales, chess matches, history books, and even pop songs. Whether you’re talking about monarchy, strategy, or metaphorical power, the word for king in German is instantly recognizable — and incredibly useful for learners building cultural and linguistic fluency.
The word is König — pronounced “KUR-nig,” with the “ö” sounding like the “i” in bird and the final “g” softened, almost like a “k.” It’s one of the most iconic nouns in the German language.
König is masculine, so it's der König. The plural is die Könige. If you need help with articles and gender, you can review it easily in my gender video lesson.
This is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, showing up far more often than you'd expect — in names, idioms, jokes, and everyday references.
Examples in all four cases:
Nominative:
Der König war sehr beliebt.
The king was very popular.
Accusative:
Sie besuchten den König im Schloss.
They visited the king at the castle.
Dative:
Alle hörten dem König aufmerksam zu.
Everyone listened carefully to the king.
Genitive:
Das Reich des Königs war riesig.
The king’s kingdom was vast.
Real-World Tips for Learners
König appears in many cultural and idiomatic contexts — not just in royal history. For example:
König der Löwen – The Lion King
ein Königreich für ein Pferd! – a dramatic phrase from Shakespeare, sometimes said humorously in German
sich wie ein König fühlen – to feel like a king (well treated, comfortable)
König sein für einen Tag – to be king for a day
The word also appears in compound nouns: Schachkönig (chess king), Musikkönig (king of music), or even Karnevalskönig. It’s the kind of vocabulary that immediately adds color and connotation to your German.
Beginner dialogue using König:
A: Wer ist dein Lieblingskönig in der Geschichte?
B: Ich mag Ludwig II. von Bayern.
A: Who’s your favorite king in history?
B: I like Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using König.
“Wenn du ein König wärst, was würdest du als Erstes tun — und warum?”
If you were a king, what’s the first thing you’d do — and why?
Say your answer out loud in German and include König in the sentence.
German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say king in German — and how der König brings richness to stories, culture, history, and everyday speech.
Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and rule over your vocabulary like a König.
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