cyning
/ˈky.ninɡ/masculine
The English phrase 'king' is translated into Old English as cyning.
cyning is a masculine noun used to refer to a male member of a royal family who serves as the supreme ruler of a nation.
Meaning: a male of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is related to the concept of being a 'kin-man' or being 'of the kin'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
cyning was notably used in the West Saxon dialect.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a masculine noun, cyning changes its form depending on its role in a sentence. The nominative plural is cyningas. The genitive singular is cyninges, meaning 'of the king'. The dative singular is cyninge, meaning 'to/for the king', while the dative plural (meaning 'to/for the kings') is cyningum.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈky.ninɡ/. The stress is on the first of two syllables.
Did you know?
- In Old English poetry, words like cyning were often paired with 'kennings', such as 'gold-giver', to avoid repetition and add metaphorical depth.
- In the early Old English period, a cyning was not always a supreme national ruler but could be a local tribal leader or a 'kin-leader'.
Examples in context
- Hē ƿæs gōd cyning.He was a good king.This sentence is useful for showing how to use cyning to describe a person's character.Tatoeba #1356319 by SuleimanArkhyz, translation #1356323 by CK
- Þu bist min cyning.You are my king.This sentence is useful for showing how to use cyning to express personal possession or relationship.Tatoeba #8879415 by iiujik, translation #6058241 by mailohilohi
- Se þēoden rīxað ofer his þēode.The king rules over his people.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A noble woman speaks to her husband about their ruler.
- ÆthelstanHwær is se cyning?Where is the king?
- ÆthelflædSe cyning is on þǣm hūse.The king is in the house.
- ÆthelstanIs se cyning gōd?Is the king good?
- ÆthelflædIā, se cyning is mildheort.Yes, the king is merciful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “king” translations and entries cyning, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cyning, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
