bici

BEE-see/'bi.si/

“bici” means “bike” in Spanish (short for bicycle).

bike, bicycle

NounfA1informal

SpainMexico

A simple illustration of a bright red bicycle with wide tires, parked upright.

📝 In Action

¿Quieres ir al mercado en bici o caminando?

Do you want to go to the market by bike or walking?

Mi bici nueva es muy rápida y cómoda.

My new bike is very fast and comfortable.

Dejé mi bici atada a ese poste.

I left my bike tied to that post.

Word Connections

Synonyms

bicicleta (bicycle)

Common Collocations

montar en bici – to ride a bike
paseo en bici – bike ride

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "bici" in Spanish:

bicycle→bike→

✏️ 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

👥 Word Family▼

bicicleta(bicycle) — Noun

ciclista(cyclist) — Noun

pedalear(to pedal) — Verb

🎵 Rhymes▼

misitaxi

📚 Etymology▼

'Bici' is a common, friendly abbreviation of the Spanish word *bicicleta*. The longer word comes from the French *bicyclette*, which combines the Latin prefix *bi-* (meaning 'two') and the Greek root *kyklos* (meaning 'circle' or 'wheel').

First recorded: Mid-20th century (as an abbreviation)

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: biciEnglish: bike

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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.