konungr
/ˈkonunɡɹ̝/masculine
The English word "king" is translated into Old Norse as konungr. Wiktionary also lists kongr.
Meaning: a male of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Old Norse | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| konungr | /ˈkonunɡɹ̝/ (Norse, West, obsolete) /ˈkonunɡr/ |
masculine |
| kongr | masculine |
konungr is a masculine noun used to refer to a male member of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of a nation.
Which one should you use?
konungr is the standard form, whereas kongr is a common variant or contraction that can be found in certain texts.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the singular, the genitive form (meaning "of the king") is konungs and the dative form (meaning "to/for the king") is konungi. For plural usage, the nominative plural ("kings") is konungar and the genitive plural ("of the kings") is konunga.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkonunɡɹ̝/
Did you know?
- Old Norse literature often uses the term konungr in kennings, such as calling a king a 'ring-giver' because they distributed gold to loyal warriors.
- In Old Norse society, a konungr was not always an absolute ruler but often a military leader who relied on the support of local assemblies called þing.
- While we use 'king' as a title today, the word konungr is built from a root meaning 'belonging to a clan' or 'of a lineage'.
Examples in context
- Konungr ann syni sínum.The king loves his son.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use konungr in a sentence about affection.Tatoeba #12431566 by Barend, translation #12431567 by Barend
- Konungr gat son við sinni konu.The king had a son with his wife.This sentence shows konungr being used to describe a family relationship.Tatoeba #12431562 by Barend, translation #12431564 by Barend
- Aðalsteinn konungr lét skíra Hákon.King Athelstan had Hákon baptised.This sentence illustrates the use of konungr as a title preceding a name.Tatoeba #12433300 by Barend, translation #12433301 by Barend
- Þessi hǫfðingi er vitr ok drengiligr.This chieftain is wise and valiant.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Astrid and Ivar are discussing the local leadership.
- AstridHverr er konungr í þessu landi?Who is the king in this land?
- IvarHaraldr er okkar konungr.Harald is our king.
- AstridEr hann góðr konungr?Is he a good king?
- IvarJá, hann er sterkr ok ríkr.Yes, he is strong and wealthy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “king” translations and entries konungr, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
