How to Say "middle" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “middle” is “medio” — use 'medio' as an adjective when referring to a size, like a 'medium' pizza or 'half' a kilo of something.
medio
me-dyoˈme.ðjo
Examples
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.
Hay una mesa en el medio de la sala.
There is a table in the middle of the room.
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'.
medio
me-dyoˈme.ðjo
Examples
Hay una mesa en el medio de la sala.
There is a table in the middle of the room.
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'.
mitad
mee-TAHDmiˈtad
Examples
Dame la mitad de tu sándwich, por favor.
Give me half of your sandwich, please.
La película se pone interesante en la segunda mitad.
The movie gets interesting in the second half.
Pagamos el coche a mitades.
We split the cost of the car (we paid for it in halves).
Always Feminine: 'la mitad'
'Mitad' is a 'feminine' word in Spanish, which just means you almost always use 'la' with it. Think of it as a set phrase: 'la mitad' (the half).
Saying 'Half of Something'
To say 'half of' something, you need the little word 'de' after 'la mitad'. For example, 'la mitad de la pizza' (half of the pizza) or 'la mitad del día' (half of the day).
Confusing 'mitad' and 'medio'
Mistake: “Quiero mitad un vaso de agua.”
Correction: Say 'Quiero medio vaso de agua' or 'Quiero la mitad del vaso de agua'. Use 'medio' right before the thing ('medio vaso'). Use 'mitad' to talk about 'the half' of the thing ('la mitad del vaso'). Both are correct, just different ways to say it!
centro
SEN-troˈsen.tɾo
Examples
Pon el florero en el centro de la mesa.
Put the vase in the center of the table.
La Tierra no es el centro del universo.
The Earth is not the center of the universe.
Hay un punto en el centro exacto del círculo.
There is a dot in the exact center of the circle.
'El centro' vs. 'Al centro'
Use 'en el centro' to say something IS in the center ('El libro está en el centro'). Use 'al centro' to talk about moving something TO the center ('Mueve la silla al centro').
mediana
meh-dee-AH-nahmeˈðjana
Examples
Quiero una pizza mediana con champiñones.
I want a medium pizza with mushrooms.
Ella es la hermana mediana de la familia.
She is the middle sister in the family.
Es una ciudad mediana, no es tan ruidosa como la capital.
It is an average-sized city; it isn't as noisy as the capital.
Matching the Noun
The word 'mediana' is the form used for things that use 'la' or 'una'. If you are talking about something that uses 'el', you must use 'mediano' instead.
Where to Put the Word
Just like most description words in Spanish, 'mediana' usually comes after the thing it is describing (e.g., 'una casa mediana').
Mismatched Gender
Mistake: “un café mediana”
Correction: un café mediano (because 'café' is masculine).
intermedio
een-tehr-MEH-dyohinteɾˈmeðjo
Examples
Tengo un nivel intermedio de español.
I have an intermediate level of Spanish.
Necesitamos encontrar un punto intermedio para quedar.
We need to find a middle point to meet.
La gama intermedia de este coche tiene mejores acabados.
The mid-range of this car has better finishes.
Matching the Noun
Since this is an adjective, you must change the ending to match what you are describing: 'un nivel intermedio' (masculine) but 'una fase intermedia' (feminine).
Positioning
You will almost always place this word after the thing it is describing, just like most Spanish adjectives.
Intermedio vs. Medio
Mistake: “Quiero un café intermedio.”
Correction: Quiero un café mediano (size) or medio (half). Use 'intermedio' for levels or things situated between two points, not usually for food portions.
Distinguishing 'medio', 'mitad', and 'centro'
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