partir por la mitad
Lemma Details
Translation: to split in half; to cut in half; to divide in two
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This phrase combines 'partir' (from Latin 'partire', meaning 'to divide'), 'por' (from Latin 'pro', meaning 'for'), and 'la mitad' (from Latin 'medietas', meaning 'middle' or 'half'). The verb 'partir' shares roots with English words like 'part', 'partition', and 'depart', all conveying the idea of division or separation.
Commonality: 70%
Guessability: 60%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
Parte la manzana por la mitad antes de quitarle las semillas.
Split the apple in half before removing the seeds.
El mago partió por la mitad la caja donde estaba su asistente.
The magician cut in half the box where his assistant was.
Partimos el pastel por la mitad para compartirlo.
We cut the cake in half to share it.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'partir' as related to 'part' in English - you're creating two parts.
- Visualize a pizza being cut exactly in the middle - 'la mitad' means 'the half'.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is commonly used in cooking instructions, crafts, and everyday situations where something needs to be divided equally into two parts.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'partir por la mitad' means to split something into two equal parts, 'partir a la mitad' is less common and can sometimes imply movement toward the middle rather than division.
Confused word:
El cuchillo partió a la mitad de la fruta.
The knife cut toward the middle of the fruit.
Notes: In many contexts, these phrases might be used interchangeably, but 'partir por la mitad' is more standard for expressing equal division.
Mnemonic: 'Por' indicates division through the middle, while 'a' can suggest movement toward.
Explanation: 'Partir por la mitad' specifically refers to dividing into two equal halves, while 'dividir en partes iguales' means to divide into equal parts (which could be more than two).
Confused word:
Divide la pizza en partes iguales para los seis invitados.
Divide the pizza into equal parts for the six guests.
Notes: When specifically dividing something into two equal parts, 'partir por la mitad' is more precise.
Mnemonic: 'Mitad' always means 'half' (two parts), while 'partes iguales' can be any number of equal parts.