A cheerful yellow and black striped honeybee flying near a colorful flower.

abeja

ah-BEH-hah

nounfA1

bee?the flying insect that makes honey

Also:hard worker?figurative use to describe someone very busy

📝 In Action

La abeja vuela de flor en flor.

The bee flies from flower to flower.

Las abejas viven en una colmena.

Bees live in a beehive.

Ella es una abeja obrera en su oficina.

She is a worker bee in her office.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

abeja reina – queen bee
abeja obrera – worker bee
picadura de abeja – bee sting

Idioms & Expressions

ser una abeja – to be a very hardworking person

💡 Grammar Points

Always Feminine

This word is always feminine ('la abeja'). If you need to specify it is a male bee, you say 'la abeja macho' rather than changing the word to 'abejo'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Abeja vs. Oveja

Mistake: "Using 'oveja' to mean bee."

Correction: Use 'abeja' for the insect; 'oveja' means 'sheep'. They sound similar but are very different animals!

⭐ Usage Tips

The Spanish 'J' Sound

The 'j' in 'abeja' sounds like a strong 'h' in English, like the breathy sound in 'hat' or 'hot'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: abeja

Question 1 of 2

Which of these animals is an 'abeja'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

abejorro(bumblebee) - noun

abejar(apiary / place for bees) - noun

miel(honey) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'abeja' and 'avispa'?

An 'abeja' is a bee (usually fuzzy and makes honey), while an 'avispa' is a wasp (usually smoother and more aggressive).

Is 'abeja' a common nickname?

Not usually as a name, but people use the phrase 'trabajar como una abeja' to praise someone's work ethic.