English

Prefix

bi-

1. two
2. (chemistry, proscribed) half

Usage notes

In an old, common method used to indicate the presence of an acidic hydrogen, sodium hydrogen sulfate is called "sodium bisulfate" and sodium hydrogen carbonate is called "sodium bicarbonate". This method is not recommended by IUPAC and does not denote a “doubling up” of a specific group, which is reserved for the Greek prefix di-, as in carbon dioxide ‎(“CO₂”).

The prefix bi in the older system comes from the observation that there is two times as much carbonate (CO₃) in sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and other bicarbonates as in sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) and other carbonates.

Synonyms

• di-
• duo-

Derived terms

Translations

Danish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bi/, [ˈb̥i]

Etymology 1

From German bei- ‎(“by-”).

Prefix

bi-

1. by-, side-

Synonyms

• side-

Etymology 2

From Latin bis ‎(“twice”).

Prefix

bi-

1. bi-

Synonyms

• di-
• tve-
• dobbelt-

See also

French

Etymology

From Latin bis ‎(“twice”).

Prefix

bi-

1. bi-

Gothic

Romanization

bi-

1. Romanization of 𐌱𐌹-

Ido

Prefix

bi-

1. bi-

Italian

Etymology

From Latin bis ‎(“twice”).

Prefix

bi-

1. bi-
2. di-

See also

• Category:Italian words prefixed with bi-

Latin

Etymology

A shortened form of bis ‎(“twice”), which drops its final s when when making compositions.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /bi/, [bɪ]

Prefix

bi-

1. having two parts
2. occurring twice

Derived terms

References

• bi- in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• “bi-” on page 231/3 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)

Navajo

Prefix

bi-

1. his, her, its, their

Usage notes

This prefix often corresponds to an English possessive ’s appended to the preceding word. For example, Diné bizaad means literally “the People their-language”, equivalent to “the People’s language” (i.e., Navajo language).

Related terms

See also

• á-
• ał-
• ahił-

Old English

Alternative forms

• biġ-, be-

Etymology

From bī ‎(“by, near, around”).

Prefix

bī-

1. prefix meaning near, around (compare Latin para-), occurring primarily in nouns

   bīgenga ‎(“inhabitant; observer; benefactor”)

   bīnama ‎(“pronoun”)

   bīleofa ‎(“support, sustenance, nourishment, capital”)

   bīswæc ‎(“treachery”)

   bīword ‎(“proverb, byword”)

Descendants

• English by-

Old Saxon

Etymology 1

An unstressed form of bī, from Proto-Germanic *bi-.

Prefix

bi-

1. A productive prefix usually used to form verbs and adjectives, especially verbs with the sense “around, throughout” or makes transitive verbs from intransitive verbs, adjectives and nouns.

   bibrekan ‎(“to break”)

   bibrengian ‎(“to accomplish”)

   bidēlian ‎(“to deprive”)

   bidelvan ‎(“to bury”)

   bidempian ‎(“to suffocate”)

   bidernian ‎(“to conceal, to hide”)

   bidōdian ‎(“to kill”)

   bidriogan ‎(“to deceive”)

   bidrōragon ‎(“to bleed to death”)

   bidumbilian ‎(“to make a fool”)

   bidwellian ‎(“to hinder”)

   bifāhan ‎(“to embrace, seize”)

   bifallan ‎(“to befall”)

   bifelhan ‎(“to recommend, give over, confide”)

   bifellian ‎(“to throw down”)

   bifindan ‎(“to notice, find out”)

   bigān, bigangan ‎(“to celebrate”)

   bigehan ‎(“to dare, confess”)

Derived terms

Etymology 2

From bī ‎(“by, near, around”).

Prefix

bī-

1. prefix meaning near, around (compare Latin para-), occurring primarily in nouns

   bīgengio ‎(“inhabitant”)

   bīword ‎(“proverb, byword”)

Portuguese

Prefix

bi-

1. bi- (two-)

Spanish

Alternative forms

• bis-
• biz-

Etymology

From Latin bis ‎(“twice”).

Prefix

bi-

1. bi-

Derived terms

• bicorne
• bimensual
• bicicleta
• bilingüe
• bisemenal

Swedish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bi/, [ˈb̥i]

Prefix

bi-

1. by-, next to, near, by the side, aside; same as English by- and German bei-; see also the rare preposition bi
2. bi-, two, dual; from Latin bis ‎(“twice”)

Derived terms