French word

abeille

Pronunciation

IPA/abɛj/

Meaning

  • feminine nounbee

Example

L'abeille produit du miel.

The bee produces honey.

Illustration for abeille (bee)

More examples

J'ai peur d'une abeille.

I'm afraid of a bee.

Core concept

A small social insect moving from flower to flower, carrying nectar back to a hive where it becomes honey.

Common phrases

  • miel d'abeille

    bee honey

  • piqûre d'abeille

    bee sting

Similar words

guêpe: A yellow-and-black striped insect that may sting.
bourdon: A large, round, hairy insect that flies with a low buzzing sound.

Definition in French

Petit insecte social qui butine les fleurs, collecte le nectar et produit du miel dans la ruche.

Word origin

French abeille comes through Occitan and Old French from Latin apicula, a diminutive of apis, meaning bee.

Usage tips

  • Abeille is feminine, so the usual article is une, as in une abeille and une piqûre d'abeille.

Word lists with this word