bè

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word bè. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word bè, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say bè in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word bè you have here. The definition of the word bè will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofbè, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Appendix:Variations of "be"

Antillean Creole

Etymology

From French beurre.

Noun

bè

  1. butter

Corsican

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin bene, from Old Latin *duened, from Old Latin duenos. Cognates include Italian bene and French bien.

Pronunciation

Adverb

bè

  1. well

Noun

bè m (uncountable)

  1. good

References

Guerrero Amuzgo

Numeral

bè

  1. two

Haitian Creole

Etymology

From French beurre.

Pronunciation

Noun

bè

  1. butter

Italian

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbɛ/
  • Rhymes: -ɛ
  • Hyphenation: bè

Interjection

bè

  1. Alternative form of beh

Sassarese

Alternative forms

  • be' (alternative spelling)

Etymology

Apocopic form of beni.

Pronunciation

Adverb

bè

  1. properly, correctly, rightly
    • 2009 October 6, Ignazio Sanna, “Li facultai d’abà (ossia: cumenti fa dinà in dì d’oggi) [The faculties of today (or: How to make money nowadays)]”, in Ignazio Sanna - Prosa e poesia in sassarese‎:
      Cumpresu: collaboratore della giustizia! Boh boh! Seizentumirioni pa’ fa la cascetta no mi parini dinà guadagnaddi be’.
      Got it: justice cooperator! I don't know... Six hundred millions to be a blabbermouth don't look like properly earned money to me.
  2. well (to a significant extent)
    • 1866 [1770s], Antonio Martini, chapter XV, in Giovanni Spano, transl., L'ebagneliu sigundu S. Matteju [The Gospel according to St. Matthew]‎, London, translation of Il santo Vangelo di Gesù Cristo secondo Matteo (in Italian), verse 7, page 58:
      Ipocriti, bè profitesi di voi Isaja, […]
      Hypocrites, Isaiah prophesized well about you
    • c. 19th century, anonymous author, “”, in Giovanni Spano, editor, Canti popolari in dialetto sassarese‎, volume 2 (overall work in Italian and Sassarese), Cagliari, published 1873, song 73, page 177:
      Cantu fazi la lettura
      E l'assè bè imparaddu!
      [Cantu fazi la lettura
      E l'assé bè imparaddu!]
      Reading and being well educated does so much!
      (literally, “How much does reading and being well learned!”)
    • 1956, Salvator Ruju, “Ma nò la vogliu mari [But I don't wish her ill]”, in Agnireddu e Rusina; republished as Caterina Ruju, editor, Sassari véccia e nóba, Nuoro: Ilisso edizioni, 2001, →ISBN, page 77:
      Vèrdhi e rànziga che féri,
      à lu córi creba creba;
      si cridia parch'era ricca
      di pudemmi bè imbischà
      Green and bitter as bile, her heart is dying of anger; she thought, because she was rich, that she could well capture me
    • 2015 May 31, Ignazio Sanna, “La paristhòria di lu santu óssu di lu barracòccu [The fable of the sacred apricot stone]”, in Ignazio Sanna - Prosa e poesia in sassarese‎:
      No vi vurìani assài carabàtturi; basthàbani l’óssi di barracòccu bè labaddi
      It didn't take that many trifles; the well-washed apricot stones were enough
      (literally, “It didn't want many trifles; sufficed the stones of apricot well washed”)
  3. well (satisfactorily)
    • 1866 [1770s], Antonio Martini, chapter XXXVII, in Giovanni Spano, transl., L'iltoria di Giuseppi l'ebreu [The story of Joseph the Jewish]‎, London, translation of Il Libro della Genesi (in Italian), verse 14, page 4:
      Soggu prontu, li dizisi: Vai, e vedi, si tuttu anda bè in cantu a li to’ fraddeddi, e a lu biltiami
      [Soggu prontu, li dizisi: Vai, e vedi, si tuttu anda bè in cantu a li to’ fraddeddi, e a lu bisthiami]
      [Son pronto, gli disse: Va, e vedi, se tutto va bene riguardo a’ tuoi fratelli, e a’ bestiami]
      "I'm ready", he told him. "Go, and see if everything is well in regard to your brothers, and to the livestock
    • c. 19th century, anonymous author, “”, in Giovanni Spano, editor, Canti popolari in dialetto sassarese‎, volume 1 (overall work in Italian and Sassarese), Cagliari, published 1873, song 4, page 87:
      Vibu sola a li mali
      Da dugn’ ombra di be’ dissimparadda
      [Vibu sora a li mari
      Da dugn’ombra di be’ disimparadda]
      I live alone with the pains, not knowing the slightest affection
      (literally, “I live alone at the pains, from every shadow of affection illiterate”)
    • 1956, Salvator Ruju, “Nò è succu nò l'amòri”, in Agnireddu e Rusina; republished as Caterina Ruju, editor, Sassari véccia e nóba, Nuoro: Ilisso edizioni, 2001, →ISBN, page 61:
      Assai bè me la vibia
      sóru sóru i la mé vigna.
      I was doing quite well, all alone in my vineyard.
    • 1989, Giovanni Maria Cherchi, “L'ulthima [The Last One]”, in La poesia di l'althri (overall work in Italian and Sassarese), Sassari: Arnoldo Mondadori Editore, page 43:
      In tutti li maneri
      mi soggu cumpurthaddu,
      si maramenti o bè no soggu dillu
      I've behaved in every way; if badly or well, I can't say
    • 2009 May 9, Ignazio Sanna, “Noi dui, a séra [The two of us, in the evening]”, in Ignazio Sanna - Prosa e poesia in sassarese‎:
      z’abèmmu piènu
      la casa di figlióri.
      Tutti be’: sani…
      We filled the house with children. All of them well, healthy…

Noun

bè m (invariable)

  1. Apocopic form of beni:
    1. (uncountable) good (the forces of good)
      Synonym: bonu
      • 1863 [1770s], Antonio Martini, chapter XLIV, in Giovanni Spano, transl., L'iltoria di Giuseppi l'ebreu [The story of Joseph the Jewish]‎, London, translation of Il Libro della Genesi (in Italian), verse 4, page 45:
        Pesa, dizisi, e poni fattu all’ omini: e acciappaddili, dilli: Palchì abeddi turradu mali pal bè?
        [Pesa, dizisi, e poni fattu a l’òmini: e acciappàddiri, dilli: Parchì abeddi turradu mari pa' bè?]
        [Su via, disse, va dietro a coloro, e raggiuntili dirai: Per qual motivo avete renduto male per bene?]
        "Rise," he said, "go after those men; and, reached them, tell them: 'Why have you returned evil for good?"
    2. sweetheart, darling, love
      • c. 19th century, anonymous author, “”, in Giovanni Spano, editor, Canti popolari in dialetto sassarese‎, volume 2 (overall work in Italian and Sassarese), Cagliari, published 1873, song 63, page 156:
        Rosa meja, lu me' bè,
        Ciamami candu sei sola.
        [Rosa méia, lu me' bè,
        Ciàmami candu sei sora.]
        My rose, my darling, call me when you're alone.
    3. affection (feeling of love or strong attachment)
      • c. 19th century, anonymous author, “”, in Giovanni Spano, editor, Canti popolari in dialetto sassarese‎, volume 1 (overall work in Italian and Sassarese), Cagliari, published 1873, song 4, page 68:
        Vibu sola a li mali
        Da dugn’ ombra di be’ dissimparadda
        [Vibu sora a li mari
        Da dugn’ombra di be’ disimparadda]
        I live alone with the pains, not knowing the slightest affection
        (literally, “I live alone at the pains, from every shadow of affection illiterate”)
      • 2009 December 23, Ignazio Sanna, “Cu la mènti a bazinédda [With a dizzy mind]”, in Ignazio Sanna - Prosa e poesia in sassarese‎:
        […] la mea mènti a bazinédda
        chi s’affanna […]
        pa’ fimmà un’intinziòni di puisia
        e ischribì ancora lu be’ chi ti ni vógliu.
        my dizzy mind, which gets worked up in order to hold an intention of poetry, and again write the affection I feel for you.
    4. (usually in the plural) good, property, possession, belonging, asset
      • 1866 [1770s], Antonio Martini, chapter XXV, in Giovanni Spano, transl., L'ebagneliu sigundu S. Matteju [The Gospel according to St. Matthew]‎, London, translation of Il santo Vangelo di Gesù Cristo secondo Matteo (in Italian), verse 14, page 102:
        Palchì cumenti un omu paltendi par andà a paisu luntanu, ciamesi li so' silvidori, e li cunsignesi li so' bè. […]
        [Parchì cumenti un omu parthendi par andà a paisu luntanu, ciamesi li so' sivvidori, e li cunsignesi li so' bè. […] ]
        For, as a man leaving towards a faraway land, called his own servants, and delivered to them his possessions
      • c. 19th century, Sebastiano di Branca, “”, in Giovanni Spano, editor, Canti popolari in dialetto sassarese‎, volume 2 (overall work in Italian and Sassarese), Cagliari, published 1873, song 75, page 182:
        S’in lu loggu chi sei
        Ancora nizissiti di sufraggiu
        La vidda, li me’ bè
        In breb’ e preltu ti cunsacraraggiu
        [S’in lu loggu chi sei
        Ancora nizìssiti di suffràgiu
        La vidda, li me’ bè
        In brev’ e presthu ti cunsacraràggiu]
        If, where you are, you still need intercession, in short time I will consecrate to you my life, my possessions
        (literally, “If in the place that you are still you need intercession, life, my possessions in brief and soon to you I will consecrate”)
    5. (figurative) beloved (someone or something that is loved)
      • c. 19th century, G. Cossu Solinas, “”, in Giovanni Spano, editor, Canti popolari in dialetto sassarese‎, volume 2 (overall work in Italian and Sassarese), Cagliari, published 1873, song 48, page 136:
        Cun la vidda m’affanni
        Cun la molti mi furi dugna bè
        [Cun la vidda m’affanni
        Cun la morthi mi furi dugna bè]
        You trouble me through life; you rob me of all I love through death
        (literally, “With life you trouble me; with death you rob me of all beloveds”)

Derived terms

Interjection

bè

  1. Used to acknowledge a statement or situation; well, so
    • 1866, chapter IV, in Giovanni Spano, transl., La profezia di Giona [Jonah's prophecy]‎ (overall work in Italian and Sassarese), London, translation of Profezia di Giona, verse 9, page 15:
      E lu Signori dizisi a Giona: Credi forsi, chi tu fozzi bè ad arrabbiatti pa la moltra? E dizisi: Bè eju m' arrabbieggiu fin' a la molti.
      [E lu Signori dizisi a Giona: Credi forsi, chi tu fozzi bè ad arrabbiatti pa la mosthra? E dizisi: Bè éiu m'arrabbiéggiu fin' a la morthi.]
      And the Lord said to Jonah: "Do you think you're doing good by getting angry becauseof the castor oil plant? And he said: "Well, I will get angry to death."
    • 2015 May 31, Ignazio Sanna, “La paristhòria di lu santu óssu di lu barracòccu [The fable of the sacred apricot stone]”, in Ignazio Sanna - Prosa e poesia in sassarese‎:
      «Bè, ni vurìmmu sabé di più? Andèmmu a fabiddanni cu me’ ziu chi ni sa assai mégliu di noi. No pai nudda è prèddi!»
      "Well, if we want to know more, we can go talk about it with my uncle, who knows a lot more than us. He's a priest, after all!"
      (literally, “"Well, do we want to know more of it? Let's go talk of it with my uncle who knows of it a lot better than us. Not for nothing is priest!"”)

Further reading

  • Ugo Solinas (2016) “bè”, in Vocabolario sassarese-italiano fraseologico ed etimologico, volume 1, Sestu: Domus de Janas, →ISBN, page 237
  • Giosue Muzzo (1981) “bè”, in Vocabolario del dialetto sassarese, Chiarella Editore, →ISBN; republished, Sassari: Carlo Delfino editore, 2018, page 47
  • Rubattu, Antoninu (2006) “bene/1”, in Dizionario universale della lingua di Sardegna, 2nd edition, Sassari: Edes
  • Rubattu, Antoninu (2006) “bene/2”, in Dizionario universale della lingua di Sardegna, 2nd edition, Sassari: Edes

Vietnamese

Etymology

Having cognates throughout Mon-Khmer (all borrowed ?), akin to Laven /bɛː/ ("raft"), Khasi bùr (“raft”), Mlabri /bɛː/ ("raft"), Nyah Kur ("raft") and Lamet /pheː/ ("raft"). See also Proto-Tai *beːᴬ (> Thai แพ (pɛɛ, “raft”)) and Old Chinese 簰 (OC *brê, “bamboo raft”). The sense of "cohorts" probably developed from the way bamboo stalks are tied together to make a raft.

Pronunciation

Noun

(classifier cái, chiếc, con) bè • (𣙨, 𤿤, 𥯤, 𬜛)

  1. (nautical) a raft (flat, floating structure)
  2. (only in compounds or fixed expressions, usually disapproving) a group of cohorts
    bè lũ tham ô
    greedy cronies; interest groups

See also

Derived terms
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia