de Oriente Medio
/de oɾjente medjo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "middle eastern" can be translated into Spanish as de Oriente Medio. It is also spelled medioriental. Wiktionary also lists de Medio Oriente and mediooriental.
Meaning: of or relating to the Middle East (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| de Oriente Medio | /de oɾjente medjo/ (from spelling rules) | |
| de Medio Oriente | /de medjo oɾjente/ (from spelling rules) | |
| mediooriental | /ˌmedjooɾjenˈtal/ | |
| medioriental | /medjoɾjenˈtal/ | alternative form |
Which one should you use?
You can express this relationship either as a single-word adjective, mediooriental or as a prepositional phrase, de Oriente Medio.
How does it change in a sentence?
The single-word adjective mediooriental must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, the plural form is medioorientales.
Did you know?
- The word medio was borrowed directly from Latin rather than evolving naturally into Spanish. This happened because the likely evolved forms would have sounded too similar to the Spanish verb mear, which means 'to piss'.
- While English speakers use 'Middle East', Spanish speakers often choose between Oriente Medio and Medio Oriente, with the latter being more common in parts of Latin America.
Examples in context
- La situación política en el Medio Oriente es compleja.The political situation in the Middle East is complex.
- Me gusta la comida de Oriente Medio.I like Middle Eastern food.
- Ella estudia la historia de Oriente Medio.She studies the history of the Middle East.
- Ese es un problema de Oriente Medio.That is a Middle Eastern problem.
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are at a restaurant discussing their dinner.
- María¿Te gusta la cocina de Oriente Medio?Do you like Middle Eastern cuisine?
- AlejandroSí, es deliciosa.Yes, it is delicious.
- MaríaEl hummus es un plato de Oriente Medio muy popular.Hummus is a very popular Middle Eastern dish.
- AlejandroTienes mucha razón, María.You are very right, María.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “middle eastern” translations and entries mediooriental, medioriental, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Oriente, de, medio, oriente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
