half

The English word “half” can be translated into French in several different ways depending on context. French does not use a single equivalent word for all situations. The most common translations include demi, moitié, mi- as a prefix, and partie in some contexts.

Demi

The word demi is often used as an adjective placed before a noun to mean “half of” something. When placed before a noun, demi does not agree in gender or number. When placed after a noun with un(e), it agrees and usually takes the form demie.

  • “Un demi-kilo de pommes”
    “A half-kilo of apples”
  • “Une demi-heure”
    “A half hour”
  • “Un demi-sommeil”
    “A half-sleep”
  • “Une heure et demie”
    “One and a half hours”

Moitié

The word moitié is used as a noun meaning “half” or “a half portion”. It is often used with the definite article la moitié de.

  • “La moitié du gâteau”
    “Half of the cake”
  • “Il a mangé la moitié de son sandwich”
    “He ate half of his sandwich”
  • “La moitié des élèves est absente”
    “Half of the students are absent”
  • “Nous avons parcouru la moitié du chemin”
    “We covered half of the way”

Mi- as a prefix

The prefix mi- is sometimes attached to adjectives or nouns to suggest something that is halfway between two states.

  • “Une expression mi-figue mi-raisin”
    “An expression half-fig, half-grape” (meaning ambiguous or mixed)
  • “Un ton mi-sérieux mi-amusé”
    “A tone half serious, half amused”
  • “Une chambre mi-salon mi-bureau”
    “A room half living room, half office”

Partie

In certain contexts, especially when talking about a portion of something divided, French may use partie to express “half”.

  • “La première partie du film”
    “The first half of the film”
  • “Il a joué une partie du match”
    “He played half of the match”
  • “Cette partie du travail est terminée”
    “This half of the work is finished”

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • de… en…

    The French structure de… en… is a prepositional construction that expresses progression, repetition, or gradual transition. Some common equivalents in English include “from… to…,” “more and more…,” or “over time.” This construction typically takes the form de + noun + en + (same or similar) noun, and it can be translated in several ways depending…

  • le flux sonore

    One of the essential differences between the English and French languages is the concept of “le flux sonore,” or “sound flow” in French. A French sentence should sound like a more or less continuous flow of sound, interrupted only by small pauses for commas and longer pauses for full stops. In order to achieve this,…

  • six & dix

    The pronunciation of the French words “six” (6) and “dix” (10) is a bit unusual. There are three ways of pronouncing the final “x.” When counting, eg from 1 to 10, “six” is pronounced SEESS and “dix” is pronounced DEESS. So the last letter sounds like a soft “s” sound. When saying something like “six…

  • formal French

    The French word “soutenu” is means “formal” in relation to language. It refers to a style of speech or writing that is used in formal settings such as academic discourse, literature, official speeches, and formal correspondence. 1. What Does “Soutenu” Mean? In French, the adjective “soutenu” literally means “sustained” or “supported.” However, when used to…

  • I think so

    Translating “I Think So” into French The phrase “I think so” has several equivalents in French, each offering a slightly different nuance. Depending on the level of certainty, tone, or context, there are multiple ways to convey this idea. Here’s a guide to the most common translations and when to use them. 1. Je pense…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *