koningin

Koningin is the Dutch word for a female ruler or queen. It also denotes the wife of a king, and in biology the term is used for the reproductive female in eusocial insect colonies such as ants, bees, and termites. In the Dutch language the word covers both the sovereign who reigns and the consort who is married to a king, with the exact meaning usually clear from context.

In monarchy, a koningin regnant is a queen who rules in her own right, while a queen consort is the wife of a reigning king and does not typically exercise sovereign powers. Dutch monarchs have included both kinds: for example, Wilhelmina, Juliana, and Beatrix were all queens regnant, whereas Emma served as queen consort. The status and ceremonial duties of a koningin vary by constitution and tradition.

In biology, a queen is the reproductive female in a colony of social insects. She typically lays eggs and can live for several years, depending on the species. The queen’s pheromones influence colony behavior and organization, and in many species she is cared for and protected by worker individuals.

Etymology: koningin is formed from koning (king) with the feminine suffix -in, creating the female form. The Dutch term has cognates in other Germanic languages and shares its basic meaning with those terms.