die Biene, -n
bee
Ein kleines Insekt, das Blumen besucht, Nektar sammelt und Honig macht.
Definition & meaning
Biene means “bee”, an insect known for collecting nectar and pollen. Bees are important pollinators, and some species produce honey.
- die Biene — the bee
- die Bienen — the bees
- The word usually refers to a bee in general, especially a honeybee, but it can also refer to other bee species depending on the context.
In a figurative sense, Biene can describe a very hardworking person, especially in the expression fleißige Biene (“busy bee”).
Grammar & Word origin
Biene is a simple German noun and cannot be meaningfully divided into modern German word parts. It comes from older Germanic forms related to the English word bee.
Synonyms & antonyms
There is no exact everyday synonym for Biene.
- Honigbiene — “honeybee”; more specific than Biene, since it refers to bees that produce honey.
- Insekt — “insect”; a broader term that includes bees but also many other animals.
- Bestäuber — “pollinator”; describes the bee’s ecological role rather than the animal itself.
There is no direct antonym for Biene, because it names a type of animal. In a broader biological contrast, one might use Säugetier (“mammal”), but this is not a true antonym.
Common phrases & collocations
- fleißige Biene — “busy bee,” a hardworking person
- Bienenstock — beehive
- Bienenschwarm — swarm of bees
- Bienenstich — bee sting; also the name of a traditional German cake
- von Biene zu Biene — from bee to bee; used literally or in descriptions of bee communication
- wie eine Biene arbeiten — to work like a bee, meaning to work very hard
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Examples
Die Biene sammelt Nektar.noun
The bee is collecting nectar.
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