abeja
/aˈbexa/feminine
The Spanish word for "bee" is abeja.
Abeja refers to the insect known as a bee. When describing the action of a bee stinging someone, the verb picar is used.
Meaning: insect (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
Abeja is a feminine noun, so you must use the feminine article la (the bee) instead of the masculine article el. To talk about more than one bee, use the plural form abejas.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈbexa/
Did you know?
- While English uses 'busy bee', Spanish speakers might compare a hardworking person to an hormiga, which means 'ant'.
- In Spanish, the verb used for a bee sting, picar, is the same word used for a bird pecking or a spicy pepper stinging the tongue.
- In Spanish folklore, the abeja is often associated with the Virgin Mary, and in some traditional regions, killing one was historically seen as a bad omen.
Examples in context
- Me picó una abeja.I got a bee sting.This sentence shows how to express that you were stung by an abeja.Tatoeba #1365281 by marcelostockle, translation #321078 by CK
- Esta abeja me picó.I got stung by this bee.This sentence demonstrates how to say this specific abeja stung you.Tatoeba #1265039 by hayastan, translation #1346482 by marcelostockle
- ¿Le picó una abeja?Were you stung by a bee?This sentence is useful for asking if someone was stung by an abeja.Tatoeba #10106402 by Shishir, translation #9982128 by NurseMeeks
- Las abejas son fundamentales para la polinización.Bees are essential for pollination.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are sitting in a garden.
- MateoMira esa abeja, Lucía.Look at that bee, Lucía.
- LucíaEs una abeja muy bonita.It is a very pretty bee.
- MateoNo te acerques a la abeja.Don't go near the bee.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, Mateo.Don't worry, Mateo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bee” translations and entries abeja, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
