abeille
/a.bɛj/
The English word for bee is abeille in French.
abeille refers to the flying insect that collects pollen and makes honey. Related terms include miel (honey), pollen (pollen), ruche (hive) and apiculteur (beekeeper).
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun abeille is feminine, so you use the indefinite article une to say une abeille (a bee). To refer to multiple bees, use the plural form les abeilles.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /a.bɛj/.
Did you know?
- During the era of Napoleon Bonaparte, the abeille became an official symbol of the French Empire. It was used on coins and flags to represent the values of industry and diligence, replacing the traditional fleur-de-lis.
- The French word abeille actually comes from the Latin diminutive apicula, which means 'little bee'.
- While abeille is the general term, French uses the word bourdon for a bumblebee, which is derived from an Old French word for a deep humming sound.
Examples in context
- L'abeille est très importante pour la nature.The bee is very important for nature.
- J'ai vu une grosse abeille dans le jardin.I saw a big bee in the garden.
Example conversation
Chloé and Hugo are sitting in a garden.
- ChloéRegarde cette petite abeille sur la rose !Look at this little bee on the rose!
- HugoElle est très jolie, l'abeille.The bee is very pretty.
- ChloéEst-ce qu'elle va me piquer ?Is it going to sting me?
- HugoNon, ne t'inquiète pas, Chloé.No, don't worry, Chloé.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry abeille, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abeille, CC BY-SA 4.0.
