ape
/ˈa.pe/feminine
The English word "bee" is ape in Italian. Wiktionary also lists pecchia.
Meaning: insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ape | /ˈa.pe/ | feminine |
| pecchia | /ˈpek.kja/ | feminine |
The word refers to the flying insect (noun).
Which one should you use?
pecchia is another form for the insect.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because ape is a feminine noun starting with a vowel, the indefinite article una drops its 'a' and becomes un' when used before it, such as in un'ape.
How do you pronounce it?
{'ipa': '/ˈa.pe/', 'syllables': 2, 'stressed_syllable': '1 of 2'}
Did you know?
- The three-wheeled commercial vehicle produced by Piaggio is called the Ape, which literally translates to 'bee'.
- The word pecchia is a linguistic descendant of apicula, which was the Latin diminutive form meaning 'little bee'.
- The phrase lavorare come un'ape means to work incredibly hard, similar to the English 'busy as a bee'.
Examples in context
- Che ape l'ha punto?Which bee has bit you?This sentence is useful for asking which ape bit someone.Tatoeba #3570981 by Guybrush88, translation #3143391 by OJR1
- Un'ape mi ha punto.A bee stung me.This sentence is useful for stating that an ape stung you.Tatoeba #13644897 by Guybrush88, translation #9795607 by CK
- Che ape ti ha punto?What bee has stung you?This sentence is useful for asking what ape stung someone.Tatoeba #3570952 by Guybrush88, translation #3143392 by OJR1
- Ho visto un'ape volare nel giardino.I saw a bee flying in the garden
- Le api sono fondamentali per la polinizzazione delle piante.Bees are crucial for plant pollination
- Sono stato punto da un'ape e mi è gonfiata la mano.I got stung by a bee, and my hand swelled up
- 57 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia and Alessandro are sitting in a garden.
- SofiaGuarda quell'ape colorata sul fiore.Look at that colorful bee on the flower.
- AlessandroSì, è un'ape molto grande.Yes, it is a very large bee.
- SofiaNon avvicinarti troppo all'ape.Don't get too close to the bee.
- AlessandroTranquilla, non mi farà male.Don't worry, it won't hurt me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bee” translations and entries ape, pecchia, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ape, pecchia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
