What Do We Mean by “Middle”?
There are essentially four different ways that English speakers use the word “middle.” It can mean “average,” or “being in the middle” of a page or story. It can also be used to express an approximation in time, as in “around.” English speakers also use “middle” figuratively to express being swamped with chores. Finally, it can express mediocrity or “average-ness.” Let’s examine the various uses of “middle” in English, distinguishing between them and offering their respective Spanish counterparts. Notice how Spanish addresses these concepts variously using nouns, adjectives and prepositional phrases.
Here are some examples, with translations:
1. medio – noun. medio/a – adjective:
Estoy en el medio de la novela. I’m in the middle of the novel.
Juan es de la clase media. John is middle class.
2. a mediados de – prepositional phrase meaning around, used with expressions about time:
Vamos a la playa a mediados de agosto. We go to the beach around the middle of August.
3. en medio de – prepositional phrase meaning surrounded by, in the midst of, or being swamped:
Estoy cansado porque estoy en medio de tantas tareas. I’m tired because I’m in the middle of so many chores.
4. mediano/a – adjective meaning average or even mediocre, depending on context.
Mi amigo de edad mediana. My friend is middle-aged.
Ese chico es de capacidades medianas. That kid has average [mediocre] talents.
In order to express the idea of an average, as in a mathematical or statistical average, Spanish uses promedio:
El promedio de 50 y 60 es 55. The average of 50 and 60 is 55.
Promediar is a verb meaning to divide into two equal parts, although usually, Spanish speakers state this idea more simply, by saying dividir en dos partes iguales or dividir en la mitad or other similar expression.
- Based on the author’s more than 20 years experience teaching and translating Spanish
This post is part of the series: Spanish Usage
The articles in this series deal with various questions about the right choice of word or phrase when English may have one or two structures but Spanish has more. They often deal with prepositional issues.
- Spanish Usage Questions: “Above”
- Using “Actual” and “Actually” in Spanish
- A Problem Preposition: The Ways “About” is Expressed in Spanish
- The Many Spanish Faces of the English Verb “to Agree”
- Spanish Usage Questions: Ways to say “Again”
- Expressing the Many Meanings of After
- Spanish Usage Questions: How to Say “Ahead”
- Spanish Usage Questions: “Anyone” and “Anybody”
- Using “Anyway…” in Spanish
- Let’s Learn About How to Talk About Appointments & Dating
- What Do You Use for “Around” in Spanish
- The Spanish Verbs Meaning “to Ask” are Many!
- Beware of False Cognates! How to Express “Attend,” “Assist,” and “Help”
- Are You “Cool” or “Cold”? Explore the Nuances in Spanish
- The Difference Between “Why” and “Because” in Spanish
- The Temporal and Spacial Meanings of “Before”: How to Get it Right in Spanish
- Don’t Be Left in the Dust! Learn to Express the Meanings of “Behind” in Spanish
- Get the Low Down on the Preposition “Below” and Say it Right in Spanish!
- Understand Saying “Help” in Spanish
- Translating “Beside” & “Besides” into Spanish: Interesting Solutions!
- Not all Meanings of “But” Are Equal!
- Expressing the Various Meanings of the Preposition “By” in Spanish
- What Can the English Word “Can” Mean and How to Get it Right in Spanish
- Spanish Usage Questions: “Corner”
- The Word “Country” in Spanish
- The Various Meanings of “Outweigh” in English and How to Express Them in Spanish
- Expressing the Idea of “Ownership” in Spanish
- How to Express “Time & Distance” in Spanish
- Treat, Try, Attempt, Deal with… In Spanish, You Probably Need “Tratar”
- Spanish Usage Questions: “Having Fun”
- Even a Word Like “Even” Has Many Counterparts in Spanish
- Don’t Go Wrong When You Look for Ways to Express “to fail”
- Do You Mean “Fair” Weather, a “Fair” Game or a “Fair” Complexion? Learn How to Say Them in Spanish!
- Love, Desire and Wanting – Spanish Style!
- Discover the Right Spanish Verbs for Taking, Holding, Grabbing… and More
- You Have Nothing to Fear Except Not Knowing How to Say “Fear” in Spanish!
- Spanish Equivalents of the Common English Word “Find”
- Discover the Various Meanings of “Middle” and How to Say Them in Spanish
- Not All Spanish Words Meaning “Worker” Are Created Equal