reducción a la mitad
/reduɡθjon a la mitad/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for halving is reducción a la mitad.
reducción a la mitad is used to describe the process or result of something being cut by 50%, such as a reducción a la mitad de los precios (halving of prices).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of reducción (reduction), a (to), la (the) and mitad (half).
How does it change in a sentence?
While reducción a la mitad is the noun phrase for 'halving', the verb reducir a la mitad is used to express the action of halving something.
How do you pronounce it?
/reduɡθjon a la mitad/
Did you know?
- The term reducción descends from the Latin redūcō, which originally meant 'to lead back' rather than to make something smaller.
- While mitad describes a half, Spanish uses medio for something located in the middle, though both words share a common Latin ancestor.
- In Spanish, if you are talking about a 'half-sized' object, you would typically use the adjective medio rather than the noun phrase a la mitad.
Examples in context
- En lugar de cortar el pastel en ocho rebanadas, vamos a dividirlo a la mitad.Instead of cutting the cake into eight slices, let's halve it.
- La empresa ha decidido reducir a la mitad las emisiones de carbono para el próximo año.The company has decided to halve carbon emissions for the next year.
- Déjame partir a la mitad la pizza y luego puedes elegir tu pedazo.Let me split the pizza in half, and then you can choose your slice.
- Voy a cortar por la mitad esta naranja para compartir con mi hermano.I'm going to halve this orange to share with my brother.
- La reducción a la mitad de los precios fue necesaria.The halving of prices was necessary.
- Buscamos una reducción a la mitad de los costos.We are looking for a halving of costs.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are discussing business expenses.
- AlejandroTenemos que bajar los costos este mes, Elena.We have to lower the costs this month, Elena.
- Elena¿Crees que una reducción a la mitad sea posible?Do you think halving them is possible?
- AlejandroSí, si eliminamos los viajes innecesarios.Yes, if we eliminate unnecessary trips.
- ElenaEntonces prepararé el nuevo plan hoy.Then I will prepare the new plan today.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, la, mitad, reducción, CC BY-SA 4.0.
