empress

Everyday

1. An empress is a woman who rules an empire. tree →
2. An empress is the wife of an emperor. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons it appears with famous rulers like Empress Catherine the Great of Russia, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, Empress Wu of China and Queen Victoria, who was Empress of India. In fairy tales an empress is like a very powerful queen. Phrases: «Empress of India», «empress dowager» (the mother or widow of an emperor).

Examples

• Catherine the Great was Empress of Russia. tree →
• Queen Victoria was also called Empress of India. tree →
• Wu Zetian was the only woman to rule China as empress. tree →
• The empress wore a gold crown. tree →
• The emperor and the empress greeted the visitors. tree →
• In the story, the empress loved nightingales. tree →
• ‘Let them take their silliness home,’ said the empress. tree →

Note

Countable: an empress, empresses (add -es after s). Male form: emperor. With a name it has a capital: Empress Matilda. An empress rules an empire; a queen rules a kingdom. Starts with a vowel sound, so «an empress».