Half
Use as an adjective before a noun, like 'half a glass' (medio vaso) or 'half an hour' (media hora). It must agree in gender with the noun.
Use when telling time to mean 'thirty' or 'and a half'. For example, 'Son las tres y media' (It's 3:30).
I want half of the sandwich, please.
I need half a cup of milk.
My brother ate half a cake.
The movie starts at eight-thirty.
The trip is long, we are halfway there.
The words 'mitad' (noun), 'medio/media' (adjective), and the time expression 'y media' are standard and universally understood across the entire Spanish-speaking world. There is very little regional variation for this concept.
Standard usage of 'mitad' and 'medio/media' applies.
Standard usage of 'mitad' and 'medio/media' applies.
While 'mitad' is the correct and standard term, you may hear the informal slang 'la mita' in very casual conversation among friends. For learners, it's best to stick with 'mitad'.
Usage is identical to Latin America. 'Mitad' and 'medio/media' are the standard terms.
Using 'mitad' as an adjective. For example: *'Quiero mitad vaso de agua.'* — Use 'medio' before a noun. Correct: 'Quiero medio vaso de agua.' 'Mitad' is a noun ('the half'), while 'medio' is an adjective ('half a...').
Forgetting gender agreement with 'medio/media'. For example: *'Espera medio hora.'* — 'Hora' is a feminine noun, so the adjective must also be feminine. Correct: 'Espera media hora.'
Using 'mitad' for telling time. For example: *'Son las cuatro y mitad.'* — The correct expression for 'thirty' when telling time is 'y media'. Correct: 'Son las cuatro y media.'
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