What is half? Pronunciation and usage in English

half means . Learn how to pronounce and use half through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of half

halfnoun

/hɑːf/
Definition & pronunciation of half

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "half" in English. There are a few ways it's pronounced, depending on where you are and what dialect you're hearing. Here's a breakdown:

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /hæf/
  • How to say it: Think of the "a" sound like in "cat," and the "f" as in "fun." It’s a short, crisp sound.
  • Break it down: "H" is a breathy sound. "æ" (as in "cat") and "f" blend together quickly and smoothly.

2. The British Pronunciation:

  • IPA: /hɑːf/
  • How to say it: This one is longer and more drawn out. The "a" sound is like in "father" (ɑː), and the "f" is as in "fun."
  • Break it down: "H" is a breathy sound. "ɑː" (as in "father") and "f" blend together.

Here's a helpful comparison:

Feature American English (/hæf/) British English (/hɑːf/)
"a" sound Short (/æ/) Long (/ɑː/)
Overall Length Shorter Longer

Resources to help you hear the difference:

  • Forbisword.com: https://www.forbisword.com/pronounce/half - This site lets you hear both pronunciations.
  • YouTube: Search "how to pronounce half" on YouTube – you'll find many videos demonstrating the different pronunciations.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located? (Country/Region) – This will help me determine which pronunciation is most likely to be used around you.

Usage and examples with the word half in English

Let's break down how to use the word "half" in English. It's a very versatile word with a few different meanings and uses!

1. As a Fraction (Quantity):

  • Most Common Use: This is the most frequent way we use "half." It refers to one of two equal parts of something.
    • "I ate half of the pizza." (Meaning 1 out of 2 parts)
    • "She has half a glass of water." (Meaning 1 out of 2)
    • "He’s half asleep." (Meaning partially asleep)
    • "Half an hour" (30 minutes)
    • "Half price" (50% off)

2. Describing a State or Condition:

  • Half-hearted: Not done with enthusiasm or full commitment.
    • "He gave a half-hearted apology." (He wasn't truly sorry.)
    • "She did a half-hearted attempt at the exercise." (She didn’t try very hard.)
  • Half-dead: Nearly dead.
    • "The soldier was half-dead from hunger."
  • Half-empty/Half-full: This is a common idiom referring to a pessimistic or optimistic outlook.
    • "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade—don’t make yourself half-empty!" (Optimistic)
    • "He always looks at the glass as half-empty." (Pessimistic)

3. Referring to One of Two (People, Items, etc.):

  • "Which half of the field are you in?" (Referring to one of two areas)
  • "He’s on the half that’s closest to the river." (Referring to one of two sides)

4. In Sport (Specifically Football/Soccer):

  • Half-time: The break in a game between the two halves.
    • "Let’s get a drink at half-time."

5. Describing a Completion (Often temporary):

  • "He's half way through his job." (Meaning he's done 50% of it) – Note, this usage is becoming less common and "about halfway" is often preferred.

Key Phrases and Idioms:

  • Half-baked: Not fully thought out or developed. (e.g., "He had a half-baked plan.")
  • Half-sister/Half-brother: A sibling of the same parent.
  • Half-price: Selling at 50% off.

Tips for Using "Half":

  • Always pair it with “of”: The most common way to show "half" is as a fraction is with "of." (e.g., “half of the cake”)
  • Be mindful of context: The meaning of “half” depends heavily on the surrounding words.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to specifically use "half" in? (e.g., "I'm writing a story," "I'm trying to understand a math problem," "I want to sound more natural in conversation.")

Synonyms for the word half

Idioms of the word half

and a half
(informal)bigger, better, more important, etc. than usual
  • That was a game and a half!
do nothing/not do anything by halves
to do whatever you do completely and to the greatest possible degree
  • You're expecting twins? Well, you never did do anything by halves.
go half and half | go halves (with somebody)
to share the cost of something equally with somebody
  • We go halves on all the bills.
the half of it
used in negative sentences to say that a situation is worse or more complicated than somebody thinks
  • ‘It sounds very difficult.’ ‘You don't know the half of it.’
have a good mind to do something | have half a mind to do something
used to say that you think you will do something, although you are not sure
  • I've half a mind to come with you tomorrow.
used to say that you think that what somebody has done is bad and should do something about it, although you probably will not
  • I've a good mind to write and tell your parents about it.
how the other half lives
the way of life of a different social group, especially one much richer than you
    it’s six of one and half a dozen of the other
    (saying)used to say that there is not much real difference between two possible choices
      time and a half
      one and a half times the usual rate of pay
      • We get time and a half on Sundays.
      too clever, etc. by half
      (British English, informal, disapproving)clever, etc. in a way that annoys you or makes you not trust somebody/something

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