ape da miele
/ˈa.pe da ˈmjɛ.le/word by wordfeminine
The English phrase honey bee is translated into Italian as ape da miele. Wiktionary also lists ape domestica.
Meaning: honey bee (noun)
Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ape da miele | /ˈa.pe da ˈmjɛ.le/ (word by word) | feminine |
| ape domestica | /ˈa.pe doˈmɛs.ti.ka/ (word by word) | feminine |
The term refers to the insect known as a honey bee. In formal scientific or educational contexts, the Latin name Apis mellifera is used.
Which one should you use?
While ape da miele is the standard way to say honey bee, ape domestica is a more technical or biological term used to distinguish the honey bee from wild bees.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun ape is feminine. Because of this, any adjectives accompanying it must also be in the feminine form.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈa.pe da ˈmjɛ.le/. The word has 4 syllables, and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- Italian uses the word ape to describe a specific three-wheeled motor scooter produced by Piaggio, known as the Ape.
- The word miele is a cognate of the English word 'mellifluous', which describes a sound that is sweet like honey.
- While ape is feminine, the Italian word for a drone bee, fuco, is masculine.
Examples in context
- L'ape da miele è molto utile.The honey bee is very useful.
- Vedo un'ape da miele sul fiore.I see a honey bee on the flower.
- L'allevatore studia l'ape da miele.The farmer studies the honey bee.
Example conversation
Sofia and Lorenzo are walking in a garden.
- SofiaGuarda, Lorenzo, c'è un'ape da miele su quel fiore!Look, Lorenzo, there is a honey bee on that flower!
- LorenzoÈ incredibile come lavorino sodo.It is incredible how hard they work.
- SofiaSì, l'ape da miele è fondamentale per i fiori.Yes, the honey bee is fundamental for the flowers.
- LorenzoHai ragione, dobbiamo proteggerle.You are right, we must protect them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “honey bee” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ape, da, miele, domestica) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ape, da, domestica, miele, CC BY-SA 4.0.
