moyen
/mwa.jɛ̃/
The English word 'mid' is translated into French as moyen.
moyen is an adjective used to describe something occupying a middle position. It is also the standard term used to express 'average' or 'medium' when discussing levels of quality or quantity.
Meaning: occupying a middle position, middle (adj)
Which one should you use?
While moyen is an adjective, you should use the noun milieu when you want to refer to a physical or metaphorical 'middle' or 'midst' (for example, 'in the middle of'). If you want to express the concept of 'midway', you can use the formal phrase à mi-chemin.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Swiss French, the term au mitan is often used and carries a similar meaning to the formal French word milieu.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective moyen changes based on gender and number: use moyenne for the feminine singular, moyens for the masculine plural and moyennes for the feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /mwa.jɛ̃/.
Did you know?
- In French, the word moyen is used to describe the 'Middle Ages' as le Moyen Âge. This historical period is treated as a proper noun and is almost always capitalized.
- When describing a person's height as 'medium' or 'average', French speakers use de taille moyenne. Using moyen alone to describe a person can sound like you are commenting on their intelligence or quality rather than their stature.
- While moyen describes a quality, the noun moyen can also mean 'a way' or 'a means' to achieve something, such as 'un moyen de transport'.
Examples in context
- Je vais arriver au milieu de l'après-midiI will arrive in the middle of the afternoon
- Nous nous rejoindrons au milieu de la soiréeWe will meet in the middle of the evening
- On se verra au milieu de la matinée demainWe'll see each other in the middle of the morning tomorrow
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are shopping for a new coffee machine.
- LucasQuelle taille de machine veux-tu, Manon ?What size machine do you want, Manon?
- ManonJe pense qu'un modèle moyen est suffisant.I think a medium model is enough.
- LucasLe prix est-il raisonnable pour ce modèle ?Is the price reasonable for this model?
- ManonOui, c'est le prix moyen du marché.Yes, it is the average market price.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry moyen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
