abeille à miel
/a.bɛ.j‿a mjɛl/feminine
The English phrase "honey bee" is translated into French as abeille à miel. Wiktionary also lists abeille.
Meaning: honey bee (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| abeille à miel | /a.bɛ.j‿a mjɛl/ /a.be.j‿a mjɛl/ |
feminine |
| abeille | /a.bɛj/ /a.bɛːj/ (Montreal) |
feminine |
The term abeille à miel is used to specify a honey bee. While abeille is the general word for any bee, abeille à miel focuses on the species associated with honey production.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase abeille à miel literally translates to "bee with honey" or "bee for honey".
Which one should you use?
abeille is the standard term for any bee, whereas abeille à miel specifically specifies a honey bee.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun abeille is feminine, so any accompanying adjectives must also be in the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
/a.bɛ.j‿a mjɛl/
Did you know?
- The word abeille comes from the Latin apicula, which is a diminutive form of apis. This means the French word for bee is actually rooted in a term for a 'little bee'.
- In French, the word miel for 'honey' comes from the Latin mel, which is a direct relative of the English word 'mellifluous', meaning a sound that is sweet like honey.
- While abeille refers to the bee, the French use the word bourdon for a bumblebee, which also means 'drone' or 'hum' in a musical context.
Examples in context
- Les abeilles pollinisent les fleurs et les arbres, récoltent le nectar pour faire du miel, de la propolis et du venin d'abeille.Bees pollinate flowers and trees, and collect nectar to make honey, bee glue and bee venom.This sentence is useful for seeing how abeille is used when discussing the biological functions of bees.Tatoeba #6916888 by Micsmithel, translation #6703979 by Micsmithel
- Les agriculteurs dépendent des abeilles mellifères pour la pollinisationFarmers rely on honey bees for pollination
- L'abeille à miel se pose sur la fleur.The honey bee lands on the flower.
- Cette abeille à miel est très travailleuse.This honey bee is very hardworking.
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are walking in a park.
- NathanRegarde cette abeille à miel sur la fleur !Look at that honey bee on the flower!
- EmmaElle est magnifique, mais je ne veux pas être piquée.It is beautiful, but I don't want to be stung.
- NathanElle est trop occupée pour nous attaquer.It is too busy to attack us.
- EmmaTu as raison, elle travaille dur.You are right, it is working hard.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “honey bee” translations and entries abeille à miel, abeille, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries abeille, miel, à, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
