Inklingo

How to Say "average" in Spanish

English → Spanish

medio

/me-dyo//ˈme.ðjo/

adjectiveA1General
Use 'medio' when referring to 'half' of something, like half a kilo or half a liter.
A bright orange cut perfectly in half, showing the two equal sections, illustrating the concept of 'half'.

Examples

Dame medio litro de leche.

Give me half a liter of milk.

Quiero medio kilo de manzanas, por favor.

I want half a kilo of apples, please.

Son las doce y media.

It's half past twelve.

Mi hermano es de la clase media.

My brother is from the middle class.

It Changes to Match!

When used like this to describe something, 'medio' changes to match the thing it's describing. Use 'media' for feminine things, and add an '-s' for plural things: 'medio vaso' (half a glass), 'media taza' (half a cup), 'medios limones' (half lemons), 'medias páginas' (half pages).

Using 'Medio' Instead of 'Mitad'

Mistake: “Quiero el medio de la pizza.”

Correction: Quiero la mitad de la pizza. Use 'mitad' when you mean 'the half' as a noun (a thing), and 'medio/a' when you're describing something as 'half full' or 'half a pizza'.

promedio

proh-MEH-deeoh/pɾoˈmeðjo/

nounB2General
Use 'promedio' specifically for the mathematical calculation of an average, such as an average score or age.
A simple wooden balance beam resting perfectly level on a central fulcrum, with three colorful, identical geometric shapes placed symmetrically on the beam, illustrating mathematical balance.

Examples

El promedio de goles por partido es de dos.

The average goals per game is two.

¿Cuál es el promedio de edad de los participantes?

What is the average age of the participants?

Mi meta es subir mi promedio a nueve puntos este semestre.

My goal is to raise my average (grade) to nine points this semester.

Necesitamos calcular el promedio de ventas del último trimestre.

We need to calculate the sales average for the last quarter.

Always Masculine

Even if you are averaging things that are feminine (like 'notas' or 'ventas'), 'promedio' itself is always a masculine noun: 'el promedio'.

Adjective Placement

When used to describe a noun, 'promedio' usually comes after the noun it is describing: 'el estudiante promedio' (the average student).

Agreement with Noun

Mistake: “Using 'promedia' for feminine nouns (e.g., 'la nota promedia').”

Correction: The adjective form often acts as an invariable descriptor and usually stays 'promedio': 'la nota promedio' (the average grade). Treat it like 'estándar' (standard).

corriente

koh-rree-EN-teh/koˈrjente/

adjectiveA2General
Use 'corriente' to describe something as ordinary, standard, or of normal quality, not special.
A plain, unremarkable gray pebble lying on a dirt ground surrounded by many identical common pebbles.

Examples

Es un libro corriente, no me impresionó.

It's an ordinary book, it didn't impress me.

No es nada especial, solo un coche corriente.

It's nothing special, just an ordinary car.

Su opinión es bastante corriente entre la gente.

His opinion is quite common among people.

Always the Same

As an adjective meaning 'ordinary,' 'corriente' is an adjective that stays the same regardless of whether the noun it describes is masculine or feminine (e.g., 'un coche corriente', 'una persona corriente').

regular

/rreh-goo-LAHR//reɣuˈlaɾ/

adjectiveA2General
Use 'regular' to describe something as mediocre or so-so in quality, implying it's neither good nor bad.
A plain gray, unexciting cookie rests by itself on a white plate, symbolizing mediocre or so-so quality.

Examples

La comida del restaurante estaba regular.

The food at the restaurant was average/so-so.

—¿Te gustó la película? —Estuvo regular.

—Did you like the movie? —It was so-so/average.

Mi nota en el examen fue regular, no suspendí pero tampoco saqué un diez.

My grade on the exam was average; I didn't fail, but I didn't get a ten either.

La comida era bastante regular, no volvería a ese restaurante.

The food was quite mediocre/average; I wouldn't go back to that restaurant.

Expressing Feeling

When asked how you feel ('¿Cómo estás?'), answering 'Estoy regular' means you are feeling just okay or maybe slightly unwell, but not terrible.

promedio

proh-MEH-deeoh/pɾoˈmeðjo/

adjectiveC1General
Use 'promedio' as an adjective to mean typical or standard, similar to 'corriente' but often implying a level or norm.
A simple wooden balance beam resting perfectly level on a central fulcrum, with three colorful, identical geometric shapes placed symmetrically on the beam, illustrating mathematical balance.

Examples

El tiempo promedio de respuesta es de 24 horas.

The average response time is 24 hours.

¿Cuál es el promedio de edad de los participantes?

What is the average age of the participants?

Mi meta es subir mi promedio a nueve puntos este semestre.

My goal is to raise my average (grade) to nine points this semester.

Necesitamos calcular el promedio de ventas del último trimestre.

We need to calculate the sales average for the last quarter.

Always Masculine

Even if you are averaging things that are feminine (like 'notas' or 'ventas'), 'promedio' itself is always a masculine noun: 'el promedio'.

Adjective Placement

When used to describe a noun, 'promedio' usually comes after the noun it is describing: 'el estudiante promedio' (the average student).

Agreement with Noun

Mistake: “Using 'promedia' for feminine nouns (e.g., 'la nota promedia').”

Correction: The adjective form often acts as an invariable descriptor and usually stays 'promedio': 'la nota promedio' (the average grade). Treat it like 'estándar' (standard).

Confusing 'Promedio' with 'Medio'

Learners often confuse 'promedio' (mathematical average) with 'medio' (half). Remember that 'medio' is used for quantities like half a kilo or half a liter, while 'promedio' is for calculations like average scores or averages of groups. Don't use 'medio' for statistical averages.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.