rei
standard
In Brazil "king" is rei, and the plural is reis. The feminine is rainha, meaning queen. It is also called Rei Momo.
Meaning: male ruler of a kingdom (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| rei | standard |
| rainha | feminine |
| Rei Momo | Carnival |
Rei is used for monarchs, chess pieces and playing cards, and also for someone who is the best at something, as in o rei do futebol.
How do you pronounce it?
In most of Brazil an initial r sounds like an English "h", so rei is close to "hay".
When do people say it?
Pelé is called O Rei do Futebol, the King of Football. At Carnival the city picks a Rei Momo, a jolly figure who symbolizes the festival and hands over the keys to the city.
Did you know?
- Brazil had its own emperor in the 1800s, Dom Pedro II, who reigned until the republic was proclaimed in 1889.
Examples in context
- O rei morava no palácio.The king lived in the palace.
- Pelé é o rei do futebol.Pelé is the king of football.
- O Rei Leão é meu filme favorito.The Lion King is my favorite movie.
Example conversation
Teacher Sandra shows her student João a chess board in a classroom in Belém.
- SandraEsta peça é o rei.This piece is the king.
- JoãoE esta?And this one?
- SandraÉ a rainha, a mais forte do jogo.It is the queen, the strongest in the game.
