throne
Loading your saved state.
throne
The official, often magnificent seat of a monarch, used on ceremonial occasions.
Bei der Krönung nahm die neue Königin auf dem goldenen Thron Platz.
At the coronation, the new queen took her place on the golden throne.
The verb 'entthronen' (to dethrone) is derived from the noun 'der Thron' (the throne). The prefix 'ent-' here means 'to take away'. To dethrone someone therefore means to take power, or the throne, away from them.
Die Revolutionäre wollten den König entthronen.
The revolutionaries wanted to dethrone the king.
The literal meaning, that is, the chair, is often made clear by verbs of sitting ('auf dem Thron sitzen' — to sit on the throne) or by descriptive adjectives ('der goldene Thron' — the golden throne, 'ein prunkvoller Thron' — a magnificent throne).
Der König saß während der Zeremonie auf einem alten hölzernen Thron.
The king sat on an old wooden throne during the ceremony.
You can recognize the figurative meaning, that is, power, from verbs that describe a change of power. These include 'den Thron besteigen' (to ascend the throne), 'den Thron erben' (to inherit the throne), or 'jemanden vom Thron stoßen' (to knock someone off the throne).
Nach dem Tod ihres Vaters bestieg die Prinzessin den Thron.
After her father's death, the princess ascended the throne.
In the figurative sense, there are many fixed expressions: 'Anspruch auf den Thron erheben' (to lay claim to the throne) or 'auf den Thron verzichten' (to voluntarily give up power).
Der kranke König musste auf den Thron verzichten.
The sick king had to give up the throne.
seat / headquarters
'der Sitz' and 'der Thron' can both mean a place where someone sits. 'Sitz' is the general word and fits normal chairs, places in a car, or other seating options. 'Thron' is a special, official, and often magnificent seat for a king or queen. The words can be confused because a throne is also a seat. But in everyday language you almost always say 'Sitz', while 'Thron' only sounds natural in royal, ceremonial, or historical contexts.
Im Schloss steht der alte Thron des Königs in einem großen Saal.
In the castle, the king's old throne stands in a large hall.
Im Bus war nur noch ein Sitz am Fenster frei.
There was only one seat by the window left on the bus.