Voices en Español

There are two words in Spanish that mean “half.” They are medio and mitad. And while they appear to be used interchangeably, the truth is is that there is a subtle distinction between the two. Depending on context, the word “medio” has various meanings (average, medium, middle, etc.) but there isn’t room to get into all of those meanings here in this one blog entry. Instead, I’m focusing on the meaning of “half” when it refers specifically to quantity.

Here is what you need to know:

Medio can be an adjective or adverb when referring to quantity. When it is used as an adjective, it agrees with the noun that it is describing. Use “medio” when referring to a single object or something that can be perceived as a unit.

medio kilo (half kilo)   una hora y media (an hour and a half)  medio bocadillo (half a sandwich)

When medio is used as an adverb it means “kind of” or “rather.”

Juan está medio loco. (Juan is half crazy. Juan is kind of crazy. Juan is not all there.)

Paco está medio dormido. (Paco is half-way asleep.  Paco is kind of asleep.)

Mitad is always a noun.  Use mitad when referring to a single object OR various objects that make up a whole.

For example, medio and mitad are both correct in the following statements:

He leído medio libro. He leído la mitad del libro. (I’ve read half the book.)

However, if you are referring to the quantity of pages, i.e. parts of a whole, then the only option is: “He leído la mitad de las páginas.” (It is incorrect to say “He leído medias páginas.”)

Photo: “Dinner” by apg