puolipitkää

Puolipitkä is Finnish for "semi-long" or "mid-length." It describes lengths that lie between short and long and is formed from the words puoli (“half”) and pitkä (“long”). The term is common in everyday language and appears in fashion writing, hairstyling, and consumer descriptions as a general descriptor of length.

In hairstyling, puolipitkä hair typically reaches roughly to the shoulders or slightly below, such as the collarbone area. It offers more styling flexibility than a short cut while staying manageable and easy to maintain. The exact appearance can vary with texture and layer techniques.

In fashion, puolipitkä describes garments whose length sits between short and long. The interpretation depends on the garment type and current trends. Examples include puolipitkä takki (mid-length jacket) and puolipitkä mekko (mid-length dress). For dresses and outerwear, the designation often points to a length around the hip to knee area, though designers may apply the label differently.

The term is flexible and context-dependent, serving as a practical, non-technical way to communicate length. It contrasts with lyhyt (short) and pitkä (long), and is related to other length terms such as polvipituinen (knee-length) in describing how far an item drapes or falls.