Phrase guide

royal we

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The first-person plural pronoun as traditionally used in formal speech by any royal personage to refer to themselves, most especially a sovereign in their role as the monarch.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Queen Victoria is the monarch most commonly associated with the use of the royal we, as in "We are not amused."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Synonym of editorial we.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: editorial we

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 朕 (zam6) — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Chinese Mandarin: 朕 (zhèn) — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Esperanto: reĝa ni — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Finnish: majesteetin me — plural we used by a sovereign
  • French: nous de majesté — plural we used by a sovereign
  • French: nous majestatif — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Hungarian: királyi többes — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Italian: plurale maiestatico — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Italian: plurale maiestatis — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Japanese: 朕 (chin) — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Japanese: 我々 (wareware) — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Polish: pluralis majestatis — plural we used by a sovereign
  • Tamil: யாம் (yām) — plural we used by a sovereign