Meanings
plural king penguins
- a large penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus, that lives on the coast of Antarctica and nearby islands
Synonyms & antonyms
nounlarge penguin on islands bordering the Antarctic Circle
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From the belief that it was the largest of all penguin species—a belief that was overturned in 1884 when its close relative the emperor penguin, which can measure nearly a foot taller, was recognized as a separate species.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Afrikaans koningpikkewyn
- koningpikkewynAptenodytes patagonicus
Danish kongepingvinen
- kongepingvinenAptenodytes patagonicus
Dutch koningspinguïn
- koningspinguïnAptenodytes patagonicus
Finnish kuningaspingviini
- kuningaspingviiniAptenodytes patagonicus
French manchot royal
- manchot royalAptenodytes patagonicus
German Königspinguin
- KönigspinguinAptenodytes patagonicus
Hungarian királypingvin, óriáspingvin
- királypingvinAptenodytes patagonicus
- óriáspingvinAptenodytes patagonicus
Polish pingwin królewski
- pingwin królewskiAptenodytes patagonicus
Portuguese pinguim-rei
- pinguim-reiAptenodytes patagonicus
Romanian pinguin regal
- pinguin regalAptenodytes patagonicus
Russian короле́вский пингви́н
- короле́вский пингви́н (korolévskij pingvín)Aptenodytes patagonicus
Spanish pingüino rey
- pingüino reyAptenodytes patagonicus
Vietnamese cánh cụt vua
- cánh cụt vuaAptenodytes patagonicus
Cite this entry
king penguin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/king%20penguin
“king penguin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/king%20penguin. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “king penguin,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/king%20penguin.
Source: king penguin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.