📝 In Action
¿Quieres ir al mercado en bici o caminando?
A1Do you want to go to the market by bike or walking?
Mi bici nueva es muy rápida y cómoda.
A2My new bike is very fast and comfortable.
Dejé mi bici atada a ese poste.
A1I left my bike tied to that post.
💡 Grammar Points
Gender Trap
Even though 'bici' ends in an 'i', it is a feminine word (la bici) because it is a shortened version of the feminine noun 'la bicicleta'. Remember to use feminine articles and adjectives with it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up Gender
Mistake: "El bici es rápido."
Correction: La bici es rápida. (Since 'bici' is feminine, both the article 'la' and the adjective 'rápida' must match.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Traveling 'By' Bike
To say you are traveling using a bicycle, you almost always use the preposition 'en': 'Voy en bici' (I go by bike), just like you would say 'en coche' (by car).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: bici
Question 1 of 2
If you want to say 'I want to ride my bike' to a friend, what is the most natural and casual way?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know the gender of a word like 'bici' that is shortened?
When a Spanish word is shortened (like *foto* from *fotografía* or *bici* from *bicicleta*), it keeps the same gender as the original, longer word. Since *bicicleta* is feminine, *bici* is also feminine ('la bici').
Can I use 'bicicleta' instead of 'bici'?
Yes, absolutely. 'Bicicleta' is the full, proper word and is perfect for formal writing or precise language. 'Bici' is just the informal shortcut everyone uses when speaking casually.