moitié

Moitié is a feminine French noun meaning one of two equal parts of a whole, i.e., half. It designates the 1/2 portion, as in la moitié du gâteau. It can also refer to one part of a larger division, for example la moitié nord or la moitié des participants.

In constructions with de, the determiner is required: la moitié de X or la moitié des X. The term is used to express halves of objects, quantities, or groups, such as la moitié du temps, la moitié des élèves, or la moitié d’une tarte. The plural moitiés exists but is used mainly when talking about several distinct halves or in more figurative senses.

À moitié is a common adverbial expression meaning partly or halfway. It can qualify an state or action, for example, être à moitié réveillé, remplir la tasse à moitié, or rester à moitié convaincu. The phrase conveys partial completion or partial agreement.

Etymology: moitié comes from Old French moité or meité, ultimately linked to Latin medietas, meaning half or the middle. The term is related to, but distinct from, demi, which is a separate French word and prefix for “half” in compound forms.

See also: demi; demi- as a prefix; médiane, fraction.