King in Greek
βασιλιάς
vasilias — king
Hear βασιλιάς
Βασιλιάς (vasilias) is the modern word for king, stressed va-si-LIAS. The queen is βασίλισσα, the kingdom βασίλειο, and the adjective βασιλικός means royal. Greece abolished its monarchy in 1974, so the word now belongs to history, chess and fairy tales.
Anyone named Vasilis, Vasiliki or Basil is carrying the word around with them — all of them come from βασιλεύς by way of Saint Basil. In Greece his feast is 1 January, which is why New Year, not Christmas, is when Άγιος Βασίλης brings presents to children.
The New Year cake, βασιλόπιτα, is named for him too. A coin is baked inside, and whoever finds it in their slice takes the luck for the year. It is cut at midnight, with slices assigned in order — the house first, then each person by age.
Example sentences
Ο βασιλιάς και η βασίλισσα.
O vasilias kai i vasilissa.
The king and the queen.
Είναι μια ιστορία για έναν βασιλιά.
Einai mia istoria gia enan vasilia.
It is a story about a king.
Related forms
- βασίλισσα (vasilissa) — queen
- βασιλόπιτα (vasilopita) — the New Year cake, named for Saint Basil
Common questions
- Does the name Basil mean king?
- It comes from it. Basil reaches English through Latin Basilius from Greek Basileios, "kingly", built on βασιλεύς, king. The basilica and the herb share the same root.
Quick check
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