en mitad de
Lemma Details
Translation: in the middle of; in the midst of; halfway through
Part of Speech: preposition
Etymology: This prepositional phrase is formed from 'en' (in), 'mitad' (middle, half), and 'de' (of). 'Mitad' derives from Latin 'medietas' (middle), which shares roots with English words like 'median', 'medium', and 'mediate'. The construction parallels the English 'in the middle of' both structurally and semantically.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Me desperté en mitad de la noche.
I woke up in the middle of the night.
La interrupción ocurrió en mitad de su discurso.
The interruption occurred in the midst of his speech.
Nos encontramos en mitad de la plaza.
We met in the middle of the square.
Estamos en mitad del proyecto.
We are halfway through the project.
Mnemonics
- 'Mitad' sounds like 'mid' in English, helping to remember it means 'middle'
- Think of being 'in the middle' of something as being at the 'midpoint'
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This prepositional phrase is used in both temporal and spatial contexts in Spanish, similar to its English equivalent. It's commonly used in narratives and descriptions to position events or objects.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'en mitad de' and 'en medio de' can both translate to 'in the middle of', 'en mitad de' often implies a more precise halfway point or division, while 'en medio de' can be more general about being somewhere in the central area.
Notes: In many contexts, these phrases can be used interchangeably, but 'en mitad de' sometimes carries a more precise connotation of being at the halfway point.
Mnemonic: 'Mitad' relates to 'half' (like midpoint), while 'medio' is more general 'middle'