அரசன்
aracaṉ/ɐɾɐtʃɐn/
The English word 'king' is translated into Tamil as அரசன் (aracaṉ). Wiktionary also lists மன்னன் (maṉṉaṉ) and ராஜா (rājā).
Meaning: a male of a royal family who is the supreme ruler of his nation (noun)
Ways to say it
| Tamil | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| அரசன் | aracaṉ | /ɐɾɐtʃɐn/ |
| மன்னன் | maṉṉaṉ | /mɐnːɐn/ |
| ராஜா | rājā | /ɾɑːdʒɑː/ |
| கோ | kō | /koː/ |
All forms of the word refer to a male member of a royal family who serves as the supreme ruler of a nation.
Which one should you use?
The term ராஜா is a loanword from Sanskrit and is more commonly used in everyday spoken Tamil. In contrast, அரசன் is the standard, formal Tamil term. For historical narratives and formal prose, மன்னன் is often used.
How do you pronounce it?
aracaṉ (/ɐɾɐtʃɐn/)
Did you know?
- The word கோ is borrowed from the Sanskrit word गो, which originally referred to 'cow' or 'cattle'. In ancient times, the possession of cattle was a primary marker of a ruler's wealth and power.
- In classical Tamil poetry, the 'king' is often praised not just for power, but for the virtue of 'kodai', or extreme generosity, which was the most essential quality of a true ruler.
- The formal term அரசன் shares a common root with the Tamil word for 'government', which is அரசு.
Examples in context
- அந்த அரசன் மிகவும் நல்லவர்.anta arasan mikavum nallavar.That king is very kind.
Example conversation
Karthik and Priya are discussing a historical story.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஅந்தக் கதையில் ஒரு அரசன் இருந்தார்.antak kataiyil oru arasan iruntār.There was a king in that story.
- பிரியா Priyaஅவர் ஒரு தைரியமான அரசன்?avar oru tairiyamāṉa arasan?Was he a brave king?
- கார்த்திக் Karthikஆம், அவர் மிகச் சிறந்த அரசன்.ām, avar mikac ciṟanta arasan.Yes, he was a very great king.
- பிரியா Priyaஅக்கதை எனக்கு மிகவும் பிடிக்கும்.akkataik enakku mikavum piṭikkum.I like that story very much.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “king” translations and entries அரசன், மன்னன், ராஜா, கோ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries அரசன், கோ, மன்னன், ராஜா, CC BY-SA 4.0.
