Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| mediano | /meˈdjano/ |
| medio | /ˈmedjo/ |
When describing something as being of an intermediate size, use the adjective forms. Note that medio can also be used as a noun to mean a medium or vehicle for communicating information, or to refer to the nature of a surrounding environment.
Which one should you use?
While mediano specifically refers to an intermediate size, the form medio can also mean 'middle' or 'half' depending on the context.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective mediano must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use mediana for feminine singular nouns, medianos for masculine plural nouns and medianas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/meˈdjano/
When do people say it?
The phrase A medio camino is used to describe a point located halfway between two places or concepts. To express finding a balance between extremes, you can use En el término medio. Additionally, Rango medio can be used in formal contexts to refer to a midpoint or average value within a range.
Did you know?
- The Spanish word medio was borrowed directly from Latin rather than evolving naturally because the likely inherited forms would have sounded too much like the Spanish verb mear meaning 'to piss'.
- Using medio before a noun can change a quantity to 'half', such as media naranja meaning 'half an orange', which is also a common idiom for a soulmate.
- The word medio can describe an environment, such as medio ambiente for 'environment', linking the concept of a 'medium' to the natural world.
Examples in context
- La televisión es un medio audiovisual.Television is an audiovisual medium.This sentence shows how to use medio to describe a communication medium.Tatoeba #4378655 by umano, translation #4435364 by LB
- ¿Cuál es tu medio de pintura favorito?What's your favorite painting medium?This sentence uses medio to refer to a painting medium.Tatoeba #4636674 by AucaCoyan, translation #4635849 by mervert1
- El cerdo hormiguero es un animal de tamaño mediano.The aardvark is a medium-sized animal.This sentence uses mediano to describe the size of an animal.Tatoeba #7094935 by Eremon, translation #6304675 by Adelpa
- Este cuadro tiene un tamaño medioThis picture has a medium size.
- Vivo a medio camino entre Madrid y BarcelonaI live halfway between Madrid and Barcelona.
- Es importante encontrar el término medio entre trabajo y descansoIt's important to find a medium between work and rest.
- ¿Quieres la pizza en tamaño pequeño, mediano o grande?Do you want the pizza in small, medium, or large size?
- Elige una camiseta talla medianaChoose a medium-sized shirt.
- Mis pantalones son de tamaño pequeño, pero podría probarme una talla medianaMy pants are size small, but I could try a medium size.
- Añade una cucharada de sal y una taza de harina en proporción 1:1.5. Luego, mezcla hasta obtener una consistencia mediaAdd a tablespoon of salt and one cup of flour in a 1:1.5 ratio. Then, mix until you achieve a medium consistency.
- Creo que ambos lados tienen argumentos válidos y es necesario encontrar un término medioI think both sides have valid arguments, and it's necessary to find a middle ground.
- 12 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are ordering coffee at a café.
- Lucía¿Qué tamaño de café quieres, Javier?What size coffee do you want, Javier?
- JavierQuiero un café mediano, por favor.I want a medium coffee, please.
- LucíaYo pediré uno pequeño.I will order a small one.
- JavierEstá bien, Lucía.That is fine, Lucía.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “medium” translations and entries mediano, medio, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mediano, medio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
