How to Say "half note" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “half note” is “blanca” — use 'blanca' when referring specifically to the musical note that is half the duration of a whole note..
English → Spanish
blanca
BLAHN-kah/ˈblaŋka/
nounB2musical term
Use 'blanca' when referring specifically to the musical note that is half the duration of a whole note.
Examples
El compás de cuatro por cuatro permite cuatro negras o dos blancas.
Four-four time allows for four quarter notes or two half notes.
Musical Notes
The name of this musical note comes from its appearance: an uncolored, or 'white,' note head. Other notes are named similarly (e.g., 'negra' for quarter note).
mínima
nounB1musical notation
Use 'mínima' when referring to a musical note, although it's less common than 'blanca' for this meaning and can also refer to a minimum value, especially in temperature.
Examples
La mínima de hoy será de tres grados.
Today's low will be three degrees.
Confusing Musical Notes with Temperature
Learners often encounter 'mínima' in weather reports as the 'low' temperature, leading them to incorrectly assume it's the primary Spanish word for 'half note'. Remember that 'blanca' is the standard musical term for a half note.
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