Spanish word

abeja

Pronunciation

IPA/aˈβexa/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbee

Example

¿Has visto una abeja?

Have you seen a bee?

Illustration for abeja (bee)

More examples

La abeja me picó en el brazo.

The bee stung me on the arm.

Core concept

Small flying insect that visits flowers to gather nectar and pollen and can sting.

Common phrases

  • una abeja

    a bee

  • picadura de abeja

    bee sting

  • miel de abeja

    honey

Similar words

avispa: Stinging insect with a distinctly narrow waist and a tapered, elongated body.
abejorro: Heavyset, round, densely furred flower visitor that produces a loud, slow buzz in flight.
avispón: Very large, vigorous stinging insect with high aggression whose sting causes strong pain.
insecto: Small creature with six legs and three main body parts: head, thorax, and abdomen.

Definition in Spanish

Insecto volador que visita las flores para recoger néctar y polen; puede picar si se siente amenazado y algunas especies, como la abeja melífera, producen miel y viven en colonias.

Word origin

From Latin apis via Vulgar Latin and Old Spanish developments, cognate with French abeille and Italian ape.

Usage tips

  • When reporting a sting, me picó una abeja is the common phrase, and soy alérgico indicates a serious allergic reaction.

Other meanings

  • honeybeenoun

Related words

  • abejitalittle beenoun

Word lists with this word