ملك
malekstandard, everyday
The Lebanese word for king is ملك (malek). The plural is ملوك (mlūk), and الملك (el-malek) means "the king". Lebanon itself is a republic and has no king.
Meaning: male monarch (noun)
Ways to say it
| Lebanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ملك | malek | standard, everyday |
| ملوك | mlūk | plural |
| الملك | el-malek | the king |
The word is used for kings of other countries, kings of the past, and for the king in chess and cards.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form ملكة (malake) means "queen".
When do people say it?
The ancient Phoenician cities on the Lebanese coast, such as Tyre and Byblos, were ruled by kings, for example Hiram of Tyre.
Did you know?
- Hiram, king of Tyre in what is now Lebanon, is named in the Bible as sending cedar wood for Solomon's temple.
Examples in context
- الملك سليمان كان حكيمel-malek Sleimān kān ḥakīmKing Solomon was wise.
- بلبنان ما في ملكb-lebnēn ma fī malekIn Lebanon there is no king.
- بالشطرنج، الملك أهم قطعةbish-shaṭranj, el-malek ahamm ʾiṭʿaIn chess, the king is the most important piece.
Example conversation
Tarek teaches his nephew Omar to play chess at home in Beirut.
- Tarekهيدا الملكhayda l-malekThis is the king.
- Omarوهيدي الملكة؟w haydi l-malake?And this is the queen?
- Tarekإي، وهيدا بيحمي الملكī, w hayda biḥmi l-malekYes, and this one protects the king.
