Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary
Reload this Page Middle
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Middle

 

Vocab questions, definitions, usage, etc

Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2
 
Thread Tools
  #1
Old September 15, 2009, 05:50 AM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to laepelba Send a message via Yahoo to laepelba
Middle
Would someone please help me distinguish between the following words (and add more words to the list if necessary):

medio/a, mediado/a, mitad

Please give me an idea of when each is used, and some examples would be extremely helpful. Thanks!!!
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2
Old September 15, 2009, 08:12 AM
Tomisimo's Avatar
Tomisimo Tomisimo is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North America
Posts: 5,691
Native Language: American English
Tomisimo will become famous soon enoughTomisimo will become famous soon enough
Te doy algunos ejemplos. Quizá te sirvan.

Hay tres casas y la de en medio es verde.
There are three houses and the middle one is green.

Juan es mi medio hermano.
Juan is my half brother.

I will be leaving in the middle of June.
Me voy a mediados de junio.

In the middle of the 16th century.
A mediados del siglo XVI.

Juan tiene dos hermanos, uno más grande que el, y uno más chico. Juan es el hermano de en medio.
Juan has two brothers, one is older than he is and one is younger. Juan is the middle brother.

I'm in the middle of the book. (I'm halfway through the book.)
Voy a la mitad del libro.

Se paró a media carretera.
He stood in the middle of the road.

The flowers are in the middle of the table.
Las flores están en el centro de la mesa.

Hay tres manzanas de diferentes tamaños; yo quiero la mediana.
There are three differently sized apples; I want the middle one.

Es una playera mediana.
It's a medium tee shirt.

He arrived in the middle of the morning.
El llegó a media mañana.

middle age(d) = (de) mediana edad
Middle ages = Edad Media
Middle East = Oriente Medio
middle management = gerencia intermedia
middle class = clase media
__________________
If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it!
Reply With Quote
  #3
Old September 15, 2009, 08:26 AM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,865
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to chileno
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
Would someone please help me distinguish between the following words (and add more words to the list if necessary):

medio/a, mediado/a, mitad

Please give me an idea of when each is used, and some examples would be extremely helpful. Thanks!!!
Medio(s) also means means. By all means - por todos los medios.

Mediado also means mediated.
Reply With Quote
  #4
Old September 15, 2009, 04:13 PM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to laepelba Send a message via Yahoo to laepelba
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomisimo View Post
Te doy algunos ejemplos. Quizá te sirvan.

Hay tres casas y la de en medio es verde.
There are three houses and the middle one is green.

Juan es mi medio hermano.
Juan is my half brother.

I will be leaving in the middle of June.
Me voy a mediados de junio.

In the middle of the 16th century.
A mediados del siglo XVI.

Juan tiene dos hermanos, uno más grande que el, y uno más chico. Juan es el hermano de en medio.
Juan has two brothers, one is older than he is and one is younger. Juan is the middle brother.

I'm in the middle of the book. (I'm halfway through the book.)
Voy a la mitad del libro.

Se paró a media carretera.
He stood in the middle of the road.

The flowers are in the middle of the table.
Las flores están en el centro de la mesa.

Hay tres manzanas de diferentes tamaños; yo quiero la mediana.
There are three differently sized apples; I want the middle one.

Es una playera mediana.
It's a medium tee shirt.

He arrived in the middle of the morning.
El llegó a media mañana.

middle age(d) = (de) mediana edad
Middle ages = Edad Media
Middle East = Oriente Medio
middle management = gerencia intermedia
middle class = clase media
Thanks, David - YES, very helpful indeed!! So, how exactly can I distinguish between using medio/a and mitad?

Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post
Medio(s) also means means. By all means - por todos los medios.

Mediado also means mediated.
That's also helpful, Hernán. Thank you!
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #5
Old September 15, 2009, 10:04 PM
Tomisimo's Avatar
Tomisimo Tomisimo is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North America
Posts: 5,691
Native Language: American English
Tomisimo will become famous soon enoughTomisimo will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
Thanks, David - YES, very helpful indeed!! So, how exactly can I distinguish between using medio/a and mitad?
Well, first remember that "medio" is an adjective meaning middle, and "mitad" is a noun meaning half.
__________________
If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it!
Reply With Quote
  #6
Old September 15, 2009, 10:29 PM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,865
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to chileno
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomisimo View Post
Well, first remember that "medio" is an adjective meaning middle, and "mitad" is a noun meaning half.
Except when used as in half brother?
Reply With Quote
  #7
Old September 16, 2009, 02:09 AM
María José's Avatar
María José María José is offline
The Rebel Fairy
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 1,765
Native Language: Spanish
María José is on a distinguished road
Your list is wonderful, David. There are just a couple of things I would say differently (the Atlantic as usual, I guess)
You wrote:
I'm in the middle of the book. (I'm halfway through the book.)
Voy a la mitad del libro.

Se paró a media carretera.
He stood in the middle of the road.
I would say:
Voy por la mitad del libro
Se paró en medio de la carretera.

And I love your translation of tee shirt. Here we call it camiseta.
__________________
"When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies."
from Peter Pan by J.M.Barrie
Reply With Quote
  #8
Old September 16, 2009, 03:33 AM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to laepelba Send a message via Yahoo to laepelba
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomisimo View Post
Well, first remember that "medio" is an adjective meaning middle, and "mitad" is a noun meaning half.
What about "two and a half" or something like that? In that case, "half" is a noun, but wouldn't you say "dos y medio"?

Also - how would you say "it's the middle of the month"? Would that use "mitad"?
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #9
Old September 16, 2009, 05:27 AM
pjt33's Avatar
pjt33 pjt33 is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Valencia, España
Posts: 2,600
Native Language: Inglés (en-gb)
pjt33 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
What about "two and a half" or something like that? In that case, "half" is a noun, but wouldn't you say "dos y medio"?

Also - how would you say "it's the middle of the month"? Would that use "mitad"?
Dos y medio, media naranja, etc, sí.

"A mediados del mes". Véase también "a principios del mes" y "a finales del mes".
Reply With Quote
  #10
Old September 16, 2009, 06:51 AM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,865
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to chileno
Quote:
Originally Posted by María José View Post


Se paró a media carretera.
He stood in the middle of the road.
Para mi "se paró a media carretera" significaría que mas o menos se paró a medio camino (hacia un lugar)

Se paró en el medio de la carretera would be he stood in the middle of the road.

Quote:
Originally Posted by pjt33 View Post
Dos y medio, media naranja, etc, sí.

"A mediados del mes". Véase también "a principios del mes" y "a finales del mes".
También se dice "a (la) mitad del mes"
Reply With Quote
  #11
Old September 16, 2009, 12:16 PM
EmpanadaRica's Avatar
EmpanadaRica EmpanadaRica is offline
Sapphire
  
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Holland
Posts: 1,067
Native Language: Dutch
EmpanadaRica is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post
Para mi "se paró a media carretera" significaría que mas o menos se paró a medio camino (hacia un lugar)

Se paró en el medio de la carretera would be he stood in the middle of the road.
Me gusta esta distinción, tiene sentido.

En holandés nos decimos 'halverwege' es decir 'a media carretera' / ' a medio camino' también (cuando yendo a algún lugar. 'Midden op de weg' = como 'en el medio de la carretera' entonces nosotros tenemos exactamente la misma distinción como en español.

Además creo que en inglés sea la diferencia entre 'halfway' y 'in the middle of the road' ¿no?
__________________
"Roam with young Persephone.
With the morrow, there shall be
One more wraith among your number"
Want to learn Dutch? Have a look here
Reply With Quote
  #12
Old September 16, 2009, 12:17 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
  
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,128
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
1/2 = un medio
3/2 = tres medios

1 1/2 cucharada = una cucharada y media (de)
2 1/2 litros = dos litros y medio (de)

Para preparar el arroz, se necesitan dos tazas y media (2 1/2) de agua por cada taza y media (1 1/2) de arroz.
For cooking rice, one needs two and a half cups of water for each cup and a half of rice. (Don't try this at home, it's not true)

Compré tres metros y medio de tela para hacerme un vestido.
I bought three and a half meters of cloth (?) to make myself a dress.

In mathematics: Un medio más un medio hacen un entero. 1/2 + 1/2 = 1
__________________
♪ ♫ ♪ Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays... ♪ ♫ ♪
Last edited by AngelicaDeAlquezar; September 16, 2009 at 12:40 PM. Reason: Thanks for the correction, Lou Ann! :)
Reply With Quote
  #13
Old September 16, 2009, 12:31 PM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Send a message via AIM to laepelba Send a message via Yahoo to laepelba
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
Para preparar el arroz, se necesitan dos tazas y media (2 1/2) de agua por cada taza y media (1 1/2) de arroz.
For cooking rice, one needs two and a half cups of water for each cup and a half of rice. (Don't try this at home, it's not true)

Compré tres metros y medio de tela para hacerme un vestido.
I bought three and a half meters of cloth (?) to make myself a dress.

THANKS, everyone - this discussion is helpful for my thinking and trying to put sentences together!!
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #14
Old September 16, 2009, 12:59 PM
pjt33's Avatar
pjt33 pjt33 is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Valencia, España
Posts: 2,600
Native Language: Inglés (en-gb)
pjt33 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
Para preparar el arroz, se necesitan dos tazas y media (2 1/2) de agua por cada taza y media (1 1/2) de arroz.
For cooking rice, one needs two and a half cups of water for each cup and a half of rice. (Don't try this at home, it's not true)
Me tenías preocupado...
Reply With Quote
  #15
Old September 16, 2009, 04:40 PM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,865
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to chileno
Quote:
Originally Posted by EmpanadaRica View Post
Me gusta esta distinción, tiene sentido.

En holandés nos decimos 'halverwege' es decir 'a media carretera' / ' a medio camino' también (cuando yendo a algún lugar. 'Midden op de weg' = como 'en el medio de la carretera' entonces nosotros tenemos exactamente la misma distinción como en español.

Además creo que en inglés sea la diferencia entre 'halfway' y 'in the middle of the road' ¿no?
Correcto.

Aunque dependería de la proposición usada en inglés.

halfway on the road to...

halfway of the road...

Reply With Quote
  #16
Old September 16, 2009, 08:29 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
  
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,128
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
@pjt: era información "a medias", sólo para usar más "medios".
__________________
♪ ♫ ♪ Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays... ♪ ♫ ♪
Reply With Quote
  #17
Old September 16, 2009, 10:56 PM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,865
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to chileno
Quote:
Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar View Post
@pjt: era información "a medias", sólo para usar más "medios".


Media chistosita,¿eh?
Reply With Quote
  #18
Old September 17, 2009, 02:35 AM
pjt33's Avatar
pjt33 pjt33 is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Valencia, España
Posts: 2,600
Native Language: Inglés (en-gb)
pjt33 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post
Correcto.

Aunque dependería de la proposición usada en inglés.

halfway on the road to...

halfway of the road...
Diría "halfway along the road to" y "halfway across the road".
Reply With Quote
  #19
Old September 17, 2009, 02:44 AM
ROBINDESBOIS's Avatar
ROBINDESBOIS ROBINDESBOIS is offline
Diamond
  
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,040
ROBINDESBOIS is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to ROBINDESBOIS
Tomisimo can you set some examples with MID in English??
Reply With Quote
  #20
Old September 17, 2009, 04:49 AM
María José's Avatar
María José María José is offline
The Rebel Fairy
  
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 1,765
Native Language: Spanish
María José is on a distinguished road
I can think of some, off the top of my head:
Mid-morning
In her mid forties
Mid-Atlantic
mid 1600s
mid-life crisis
I'm sure there are a lot more I cannot remember now.
__________________
"When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies."
from Peter Pan by J.M.Barrie
Reply With Quote
Reply
Page 1 of 2 1 2

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »
 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:02 PM.

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

Contact Us - Tomisimo Home - Archive - Terms of Service - Top
X