mésmenys

Mésmenys is a term encountered in informal Catalan writing and speech. It is a portmanteau formed from més (more) and menys (less) and is used to express approximation or an imprecise degree, similar in function to the English phrase more or less. The form is not standard in prescriptive Catalan grammar, where més o menys is the conventional expression.

Usage and regional notes

Mésmenys appears mainly in informal registers and online communication across Catalan-speaking regions, including Catalunya, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community. It is typically avoided in formal writing, journalism, and education, where the conventional més o menys is preferred.

Orthography and interpretation

As a casual variant, mésmenys is usually written as a single word in informal texts. In careful writing, speakers and writers should revert to més o menys. The nuance remains the same: it signals a rough estimate rather than an exact figure or precise degree.

Examples

Exemples of usage in informal contexts include: “Aquest projecte és mésmenys difícil del que sembla,” meaning that it is more or less difficult than it appears. Another example: “El cost és mésmenys de 50 euros,” indicating an approximate cost just under or around 50 euros.

See also

Catalan language; més o menys; colloquial speech; language variation.