milieu
/mi.ljø/masculine
The English word "middle" is translated into French as milieu.
milieu is a masculine noun used to refer to a physical or metaphorical midpoint or center. It is commonly used in the phrase au milieu de to mean "in the middle of" something or someone.
Meaning: centre, midpoint (noun)
Which one should you use?
While milieu refers to a physical or metaphorical middle, the French word centre is typically reserved for a geometric center or a central hub.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
milieu is a masculine noun. The related adjective moyen can be used to mean "located in the middle" or "in between", while central means "central".
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables: /mi.ljø/.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not confuse the French milieu with the English word "milieu" (which refers to a social environment). In French, milieu is the standard word for "middle" and can also mean "environment" depending on the context.
Did you know?
- The word milieu is used in the term milieu criminel to refer specifically to the underworld or organized crime circles.
- The word milieu is a compound of the prefix mi- and the word lieu, which means 'place'.
- While an English speaker uses 'milieu' to describe a sophisticated cultural setting, a French speaker uses milieu for any environment, including a swamp or a laboratory.
Examples in context
- Celui du milieu est à moi.The middle one is mine.This sentence shows how to use milieu to identify a specific object among others.Tatoeba #6287741 by Aiji, translation #3168161 by CK
- Pliez la feuille par le milieu.Fold the paper in the middle.This sentence demonstrates how to use milieu when describing a physical action on an object.Tatoeba #8383602 by sacredceltic, translation #47336 by Eldad
- Tom vit au milieu de nulle part.Tom is living in the middle of nowhere.This sentence illustrates the use of milieu in the common idiom for being in the middle of nowhere.Tatoeba #5209320 by davidcfres, translation #3446780 by CK
- Le milieu du livreThe middle of the book
- Le milieu de la rueThe middle of the street
- Au centre de la villeIn the middle of the city
- Le centre de la pièceThe middle of the room
- Au milieu de la fêteIn the middle of the party
- Assis au milieuSitting in the middle
- L'homme entre les deux femmesThe man between the two women
- Entre le début et la finBetween the beginning and the end
- Elle est assise au milieu de la pièce.She is sitting in the middle of the room.
- Je me suis perdu au milieu de la forêt.I got lost in the middle of the forest.
- La partie médiane de la routeThe middle part of the road
- Une personne d'âge moyenA middle-aged person
- 113 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are looking for a specific house in a street.
- EmmaOù est la maison ?Where is the house?
- HugoElle est au milieu de la rue.It is in the middle of the street.
- EmmaJe vois la maison du milieu.I see the middle house.
- HugoC'est celle-là, Emma.That's the one, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “middle” translations and entries milieu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries milieu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
