How to Say "Half" in Arabic - How To Say Guide

نِصْف

niṣfmasculine

In Arabic, 'half' is expressed as نِصْف (niṣf). Wiktionary also lists نُصْف (nuṣf).

Meaning: one of two roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided (noun)

Ways to say it

“half” in Arabic
Arabic	Romanization (Wiktionary)	Note
نِصْف	niṣf	masculine
نُصْف	nuṣf	masculine

The term refers to one of two roughly equal parts into which anything may be divided.

Additionally, the dual form نِصْفَيْنِ is used to mean 'two halves' when the word is in the genitive or accusative case.

niṣf

While نِصْف means 'half' in a general sense, the 'half-moon' or crescent is called هِلَال. This term comes from a root related to the lunar month rather than the concept of division.
In classical Arabic poetry, a single verse is divided into two equal parts called شَطْر (shaṭr), meaning 'a half'. This term is used specifically for the structural components of a line of verse rather than for general objects.
The word نِصْف is used in the expression نِصْفُ الحَقِيقَة (half the truth), which is a common rhetorical way to describe a lie that is partially based on reality.

نصف ساعة
Half an hour
نصف الكعكة
Half of the cake
بدي نص البيتزا اذا ممكن
I'd like half of the pizza, please if possible.
أَكَلْتُ نِصْفَ الرَّغِيفِ.
akaltu niṣfa ar-raghīf.
I ate half of the loaf.
هَلْ تُرِيدُ نِصْفَ كُوبٍ مِنَ المَاءِ؟
hal turīdu niṣfa kūbin mina al-mā'?
Do you want half a cup of water?

Ahmed and Sarah are sharing a snack in the kitchen.

أحمد Ahmed

يَا سَارَةُ، هَلْ نَأْكُلُ نِصْفَ التُّفَّاحَةِ مَعًا؟
yā Sāratu, hal na'kulu niṣfa at-tuffāḥati ma'an?
Sarah, shall we eat half of the apple together?
سارة Sara

نَعَمْ، هَذَا مُمْتَازٌ.
na'am, hādhā mumtāz.
Yes, that is excellent.
أحمد Ahmed

سَأَقْسِمُهَا إِلَى نِصْفَيْنِ.
sa'aqsimuhā ilā niṣfayn.
I will divide it into two halves.
سارة Sara

شُكْرًا لَكَ يَا أَحْمَدُ.
shukran laka yā Aḥmad.
Thank you, Ahmed.

Sources

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