Metà vs Mezzo
GRAMMATICA
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.