French word

demi

Pronunciation

IPA/dəmi/

Meaning

  • masculine nounhalf-pint

Example

Je prends un demi, s'il vous plaît.

I'll have a half-pint, please.

Illustration for demi (half-pint)

More examples

Je prends un demi de bière, s'il vous plaît.

I will have half a beer, please.

Core concept

A glass portion whose unstated whole is supplied by the drink being served.

Common phrases

  • un demi

    a half

  • un demi de bière

    half a beer

  • un demi-litre

    half-liter

Similar words

moitié: One of two equal parts of a complete whole.
verre: A drinking glass for holding a beverage.

Definition in French

Désigne la moitié d'un verre de boisson, souvent employé pour parler d'une demi de bière.

Word origin

French inherited demi from Old French, ultimately from Latin dimidius; its noun use arose when demi-bière was shortened to demi.

Usage tips

  • Un demi normally means a beer, so another drink is specified with de, as in un demi de vin.

Other meanings

  • halfnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word