mitad
Lemma Details
Translation: half; middle; midpoint
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'medietas' (middle, center), derived from 'medius' (middle). The English word 'mediate' shares this Latin root, both conveying the concept of being in the middle. The evolution from Latin 'medietas' to Spanish 'mitad' involved phonetic changes typical of Romance language development.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 30%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'mitad' as 'mid' + 'tad', where 'mid' reminds you of 'middle' and 'tad' is just a small bit to complete the word.
- Associate 'mitad' with 'meet at' the middle point.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
The concept of 'mitad' is important in Spanish culture, particularly in sharing and dividing things equally. The phrase 'ir a mitades' (to go halves) is common when splitting costs between friends or family members.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While both 'mitad' and 'medio' can translate to 'half', 'mitad' is typically used as a noun referring to one of two equal parts, while 'medio' can function as an adjective, adverb, or noun with broader meanings including 'middle', 'medium', or 'means'.
Confused word:
Está a medio camino entre Madrid y Barcelona.
It's halfway between Madrid and Barcelona.
Notes: 'Mitad' is more specific to the concept of one of two equal parts, while 'medio' has more versatile usage.
Mnemonic: Think of 'mitad' for the noun (the half itself) and 'medio' for describing something as being half or in the middle.
Explanation: 'Mitad' refers to half of something, while 'mediano' means 'medium-sized' or 'average'.
Notes: Both relate to the concept of 'middle' but in different contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Mitad' divides into two, while 'mediano' describes something in the middle range of sizes.