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abeille

bee

noun ah-BAY Rare

Usage Note

Abeille refers to the honeybee and is central to French expressions about hard work: travailler comme une abeille (to work like a bee). A beehive is une ruche, and a beekeeper is un apiculteur. French honey (miel) has AOC-protected regional varieties.

Examples

"L'abeille butine les fleurs du jardin."

Natural Translation

The bee gathers pollen from the garden flowers.

Literal Translation

The bee forages the flowers of the garden.

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