Metà vs Mezzo

GRAMMATICA

9/12/20242 min leggere

In Italian, there are two ways to translate the English word “half”: mezzo and metà.

For example:

Ho spezzato il pane a metà.

I broke the bread in half.

Giulia ha bevuto mezza tazza di caffè.

Giulia drank half a cup of coffee.

These two words convey a similar meaning, but their usage is different depending on the context.

This can be tricky for non-native speakers, but if you’re looking for a clear explanation, you’re in the right place!

How to use metà?

Metà is a feminine noun and is used to describe something that is divided into two equal parts.

Just like other nouns ending in -tà, metà doesn’t have a plural form. So, even when referring to more than one half, we say due metà (two halves).

Here are a few examples:

La metà di 12 è 6.

Half of 12 is 6.

Abbiamo finito la metà dei compiti.

We finished half of the homework.

Le due metà dell’arancia sono uguali.

The two halves of the orange are equal.

How to use mezzo?

Mezzo is an adjective and must accompany a noun. Like all adjectives in Italian, it agrees with the gender and number of the noun it describes.

It changes form as follows:

mezzo (masculine singular)

mezza (feminine singular)

mezzi (masculine plural)

mezze (feminine plural)

Take a look at these examples:

Ho letto mezzo capitolo prima di dormire.

I read half a chapter before bed.

Abbiamo mangiato mezza pizza ieri sera.

We ate half a pizza last night.

Non mi piacciono le mezze scuse.

I don’t like half-hearted excuses.

Set expressions with mezzo

Mezzo is also used in various idiomatic phrases like:

in mezzo a

in the middle of

per mezzo di

through/by means of

mettersi in mezzo

to interfere/get in the way

nel bel mezzo di

right in the middle of

We also find mezzo in compound words such as:

mezzanotte (midnight)

mezzogiorno (noon)

How to use mezzo as an adverb?

Sometimes, mezzo functions as an adverb. When used this way, it remains unchanged and means a metà (halfway) or per metà (in part).

In this case, you can leave mezzo as it is, or you can match it to the subject. Either way is grammatically acceptable:

Il libro era mezzo aperto. / Il libro era mezzo aperto.

The book was half-open.

Era mezzo arrabbiato. / Era mezza arrabbiata.

He/She was half angry.

This flexibility gives you more options when describing something that’s partially true or incomplete.