half
gb/hˈæf/ us/hˈæf/
A1
English
~ 1500
fél, félig, félig-meddig, félidő
NOUN
A1
1
fél
A1
Usage pattern:
[something] in half
She cut the sandwich in half.
Félbevágta a szendvicset.
I waited for half an hour before he arrived.
Fél órát vártam, mire megérkezett.
Only half of the cake was eaten.
Half the population voted in the election.
The glass was half full.
Learner examples
I ate half of the pizza.
Megettem a pizza felét.
We walked for half an hour.
Fél órát sétáltunk.
He drank half a glass of water.
Half the class is absent today.
Cut the apple in half.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'half' with 'a half'. Use 'half' without 'a' when it comes before nouns like 'hour' or 'mile' (e.g., 'half an hour', not 'a half hour' in British English).
Meaning
One of two equal parts
Collocations
half an hour
|half a mile
|half a cup
|half a day
|half a dozen
Synonyms
portion (A general term for part of something; not necessarily equal)
Antonyms
whole (Refers to the complete thing, not divided)
Themes
math
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
One of two equal parts of something.
One of the two equal parts into which something can be divided.
A2
2
Usage pattern:
half [noun]
The bottle is half full.
Az üveg félig tele van.
We bought the tickets at half price.
Fél áron vettük meg a jegyeket.
The project is only half finished.
I was only half awake during the lecture.
Learner examples
The glass is half empty.
A pohár félig üres.
We got it for half price.
Fél áron kaptuk meg.
My work is half done.
She was half asleep.
Common mistake:
Learners may forget to use 'half' before a noun directly without 'of' (e.g., 'half price', not 'half of price').
Meaning
Equal to one of two parts
Collocations
half price
|half full
|half empty
|half finished
Synonyms
partial (Means incomplete or part of something, but not necessarily exactly half)
Antonyms
whole (Describes something complete, not divided)
Themes
math
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Describes something that is one of two equal parts.
Being equal to one of two equal parts of something.
B1
3
félig
A2
félig-meddig
B2
Usage pattern:
only half [verb/adjective]
I only half understand what you're saying.
Csak félig értem, amit mondasz.
She half smiled at the joke.
A viccen csak félig-meddig mosolyodott el.
He was half convinced it would work.
Learner examples
I half understand this story.
Félig értem ezt a történetet.
She half agrees with me.
Félig-meddig egyetért velem.
He half smiled.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the adverb form with the adjective form; as an adverb, 'half' modifies verbs or adjectives, not nouns.
Meaning
Approximately to half extent
Collocations
half believe
|half understand
|half smile
Synonyms
partly (General term for not completely)
Antonyms
completely (Fully or entirely)
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Partly; to about 50% of the full amount or degree.
To an extent that is about equal to one of two equal parts; partly.
NOUN
A2
4
félidő
A2
The team scored twice in the second half.
A csapat két gólt szerzett a második félidőben.
We were losing by halftime.
A félidőre már vesztésre álltunk.
The first half ended with a tie.
Learner examples
The first half is over.
Vége az első félidőnek.
They scored in the second half.
A második félidőben szereztek gólt.
We played better in the second half.
Meaning
One period in a game or match
Collocations
first half
|second half
Synonyms
period (General term for a segment of time in sports)
Antonyms
overtime (Extra time added beyond the regular halves)
Themes
sports
|time
Definition
One of the two main time periods in some sports games.
One of the two periods into which some games or matches are divided.
Grammar
Dictionary form
half
IPA
GB/hˈæf/
US/hˈæf/
Syllables & stress
half (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (half)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: half
- Plural: halfs, halves
Word family
Expressions
better half
1/bˈɛtɚ hˈæf/
idiom
informal
Spouse or partner (humorous)
A humorous way to say your husband, wife, or partner.
Examples
- I came here with my better half.
- My better half is out shopping.
cut in half
1/kˈʌt ˈɪn hˈæf/
fixed phrase
Divide into two equal parts
To make something into two equal parts by cutting it.
Examples
- She cut the paper in half.
- The company cut its prices in half.
half and half
1/hˈæf ˈænd hˈæf/
fixed phrase
Mixture in equal parts
Something that has equal amounts of two different things.
Examples
- I take my coffee with half and half.
- The paint is a half-and-half mix of blue and white.
half-hearted
1/hˈæf hˈɑɹtɪd/
fixed phrase
With little enthusiasm or effort
Doing something without much interest or effort.
Examples
- He gave a half-hearted smile.
- Her apology seemed half-hearted.
in half
1/ˈɪn hˈæf/
fixed phrase
In two equal parts
Into two equal pieces or sections.
Examples
- Fold the paper in half.
- The branch snapped in half.