How to Say "Queen Bee" in Portuguese

abelha-rainha

/aˈbe.ʎɐ ʁaˈĩ.ɲɐ/feminine

The English phrase "queen bee" is abelha-rainha in Portuguese. Wiktionary also lists abelha-mestra.

Meaning: reproductive female bee (noun)

Ways to say it

“queen bee” in Portuguese
Portuguese	IPA	Note
abelha-rainha	/aˈbe.ʎɐ ʁaˈĩ.ɲɐ/ (Brazil)	feminine
abelha-mestra		feminine

The term refers to the reproductive female bee.

abelha-rainha is a compound noun where abelha means bee and rainha means queen.

When pluralizing the form abelha-mestra to create abelhas-mestras, both parts of the compound noun are pluralized.

The word has 5 syllables and the stress is on the 2nd syllable: /aˈbe.ʎɐ ʁaˈĩ.ɲɐ/.

While abelha-rainha is the standard term, the word mestra in abelha-mestra usually means 'teacher' or 'master' in other contexts.
In Portuguese, the word rainha is also used in the phrase rainha da noite to describe the 'night-blooming cereus' cactus flower.
Portuguese uses the word abelha in the idiomatic expression trabalhar como uma abelha to describe someone who is extremely industrious.

A abelha rainha é essencial para a sobrevivência da colmeia.
The queen bee is essential for the survival of the beehive.
A abelha-rainha vive no centro da colmeia.
The queen bee lives in the center of the hive.
Vimos a abelha-rainha através do vidro.
We saw the queen bee through the glass.
A abelha-rainha é muito importante para o enxame.
The queen bee is very important to the swarm.

Juliana and Felipe are watching a documentary about nature.

Juliana

Olha como a abelha-rainha é grande!
Look how big the queen bee is!
Felipe

Ela é realmente impressionante, Juliana.
She is truly impressive, Juliana.
Juliana

O documentário explica o papel dela.
The documentary explains her role.
Felipe

Sim, sem ela não haveria novas abelhas.
Yes, without her there would be no new bees.

Sources

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