halvlång

Halvlång is a Swedish adjective used to describe length that is between short and long. It is commonly applied to describe hair and clothing, but can be used for other objects where mid-length is relevant. In hairdressing, halvlångt hår refers to hair that reaches about the shoulders or just beyond; in fashion, halvlång klänning or halvlång kjol denotes garments that fall between short and full-length.

Etymology and grammar: halvlång is a compound of halv (half) and lång (long). It is an attributive adjective and agrees with the noun it modifies in number and gender. Typical forms are halvlång for common gender singular nouns, halvlångt for neuter singular nouns, and halvlånga for plural nouns (for example en halvlång kjol, ett halvlångt plagg, halvlånga kjolar). The compound is generally written as one word, though older texts may show variations with hyphenation.

Usage notes: The term is more specific than mellång or medellång, and it is widely used in everyday Swedish to convey a mid-length standard. It is common in descriptions of personal appearance, fashion, and garment design, as well as in styling guidance and product descriptions. In some contexts, more precise measurements or common length labels (such as axellång for shoulder-length) may be used to supplement halvlång.

See also: mellång (mid-length), axellång (shoulder-length), långt (long), kort (short). Halvlång can function as a flexible descriptor in both informal and formal Swedish writing.