rey de las ratas
/rei de las ɾatas/from spelling rulesmasculine
The English phrase 'rat king' is translated into Spanish as rey de las ratas.
The term refers to a conglomeration of rats with tails joined.
Meaning: conglomeration of rats with tails joined (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase rey de las ratas literally translates to 'king of the rats'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, Rey de los ratones is used for Rat King.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, 'rata' often carries a stronger moral connotation of being a 'scoundrel' or 'thief' than the English word 'rat' does.
- The word rey shares its ancient Proto-Indo-European roots with the English word 'regal' and 'royal'.
- While ratas is the standard term for 'rats', using ratones in Rey de los ratones technically refers to 'mice', though it is used for 'rat king' in some regions.
Examples in context
- Encontraron un extraño rey de las ratas en el sótano.They found a strange rat king in the basement.
- El rey de las ratas es un fenómeno aterrador.The rat king is a terrifying phenomenon.
- Esa leyenda habla de un rey de las ratas.That legend speaks of a rat king.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are looking at an old biology book.
- Sofía¿Qué es ese rey de las ratas?What is that rat king?
- AlejandroEs un grupo de roedores unidos por la cola.It is a group of rodents joined by their tails.
- SofíaParece una criatura de pesadilla, Alejandro.It looks like a nightmare creature, Alejandro.
- AlejandroSí, es algo muy perturbador.Yes, it is something very disturbing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rat king” translations and entries rey de las ratas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, las, rey, CC BY-SA 4.0.
