fe

Everyday

1. Fe is the chemical symbol for iron, a metal element; it comes from «ferrum», the Latin word for iron. tree →
2. (Spanish, Portuguese) «Fe» is a Spanish word meaning «faith»; it is not an English word. tree →
3. It may also be a fragment of a longer word, such as «fe» in «fee» or «female», or the start of «Fe» in a name. tree →
4. Fe is a magic word that a giant chants in a rhyme, as in "Fe, fa, fi, fo, fum." tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, Fe stands for iron on the periodic table: iron is element number 26, rusts in water and air, and is attracted to magnets. The formula for rust contains Fe. Red blood cells need iron from food. Common forms: «Fe», «Fe2O3» (a kind of iron oxide, rust), «iron (Fe)».

Examples

• The symbol Fe stands for iron. tree →
• Fe is element 26 on the periodic table. tree →
• The label on the cereal box lists iron (Fe). tree →
• Rust forms when Fe reacts with oxygen and water. tree →
• Our science teacher wrote Fe on the board next to «iron». tree →
• In Spanish, «fe» means faith. tree →
• Fe comes from the Latin word «ferrum». tree →
• ‘Fe, fa, fi-fo-fum, I smell the breath of an Englishman. tree →

Note

Write the symbol with a capital F and small e: Fe. It does not look like «iron» because it comes from Latin. As a plain word «fe» is not English; in English «fee» means a payment. Related English words from «ferrum»: «ferrous», «ferric».