midi
/mi.di/
midi is the French word for noon.
midi is used to specify the exact time of 12:00 PM.
What does it mean word for word?
The word midi literally refers to the middle of the day.
Which one should you use?
While midi refers to 12:00 PM, the word minuit is used for 12:00 AM (midnight).
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of midi is /mi.di/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- If you are traveling in France, 'le midi' might appear on a train sign to indicate a destination in the South rather than a time.
- The phrase midi pile describes 12:00 PM exactly. The word pile refers to a stack or a pile, but in this context, it functions like the English word 'sharp'.
- The component 'di' in 'midi' is a direct descendant of the Latin 'dies', which is the ancestor of the English word 'diary'.
Examples in context
- Le rendez-vous est fixé à midi.The appointment is set for noon.
- À midi, je déjeune.At noon, I eat lunch.
- On se voit à midi ?Shall we meet at noon?
- Le train part à midi pile.The train leaves at exactly noon.
- Je reviendrai vers midi.I will come back around noon.
Example conversation
Two colleagues are discussing their lunch plans in an office.
- HugoTu as faim ? On mange à midi ?Are you hungry? Shall we eat at noon?
- ManonOui, midi me convient parfaitement.Yes, noon suits me perfectly.
- HugoOn peut aller au petit restaurant d'en face.We can go to the small restaurant across the street.
- ManonBonne idée, à tout à l'heure !Good idea, see you later!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry midi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries midi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
