königlich
/ˈkøː.nɪk.lɪç/
The English phrase 'royal' is translated into German as königlich.
The adjective königlich is used to describe things or people that are of or relating to a monarch or their family. You may also see the phrase wie für einen König gemacht or wie für einen König geeignet used to mean 'fit for a king'.
Meaning: of or relating to a monarch or his family (adj)
Which one should you use?
While königlich is the standard adjective for 'royal', the word kaiserlich is used specifically for things relating to an Emperor (Kaiser).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective königlich takes various inflectional endings depending on the gender, case and number of the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈkøː.nɪk.lɪç/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In German chess terminology, the 'king' is der König, but the act of checkmating is called Schachmatt. This comes from the Persian phrase 'Shah Mat', meaning 'the king is helpless'.
- In German etiquette, using the term königlich to describe a person's behavior can sometimes sound slightly sarcastic or overly grandiloquent if not used in a formal setting.
- The phrase königlich is related to the English word 'kin'. Both stem from an ancient Proto-Germanic root referring to family and lineage, which is the basis of a monarch's right to rule.
Examples in context
- Wo ist Ihre Königliche Hoheit?Where is her royal highness?This sentence is useful for asking about her royal highness using königlich.Tatoeba #6203501 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #4149463 by Hybrid
- Tom ist Mitglied der königlichen Familie.Tom is a member of the royal family.This sentence is useful for describing a member of the royal family using königlichen.Tatoeba #6768470 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6570635 by Hybrid
- Dieses Land gehört der Königlichen Familie.This land belongs to the Royal Family.This sentence is useful for stating that land belongs to the Royal Family using Königlichen.Tatoeba #2721274 by Tamy, translation #57678 by papabear
- Königliche FamilieRoyal family
- Königlicher PalastRoyal palace
- Fürstlicher EmpfangRoyal reception
- Eure HoheitYour Highness
- eine königliche BehandlungA royal treatment
- Ihre Königliche Hoheit, Prinzessin AnnaHer Royal Highness, Princess Anna
- Das Hotel bietet einen Service, wie für einen König gemacht!The hotel provides a service fit for a king!
- Heute fühle ich mich königlich!Today, I feel royal!
- Ihre königliche Anwesenheit wird erwartet.Your Royal presence is expected.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are visiting a palace museum.
- MaximilianSchau mal, das ist ein königliches Gewand.Look, that is a royal garment.
- SarahEs sieht wirklich sehr teuer aus.It looks really very expensive.
- MaximilianDie königlichen Farben sind Gold und Blau.The royal colors are gold and blue.
- SarahDas passt perfekt zu diesem Raum.That fits this room perfectly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “royal” translations and entries königlich, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
