What does demi in French mean?
What is the meaning of the word demi in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use demi in French.
The word demi in French means half-, and a half, half past, half past, demi, half a litre, half-litre, half-back, half-caste, half-breed, half, semiconscious, half-asleep, semi-naked, semi-nude, half-naked, partially clothed, semi-clothed, half-dressed, tacitly, implicitly, slightly salted butter, mixed fortunes, mixed results, room with half-board, semi-dry champagne, read between the lines, middle-distance runner, middle-distance race, while you are half-asleep, while you are still half-asleep, fly-half, scrum-half, half back, semimajor axis, knee sock, knee high, half-bottle, half a bottle, half-brigade, en dash, semicircle, truffled, marbled white, half-mourning dress, half mourning, demigod, half a dozen, half a dozen, ray, semi-final, semifinalist, semi-finalist, middle-distance, half-brother, retail-wholesale, spat, demi-habillé, half an hour, half-light, semi-darkness, half a day, half a litre, half a pound, half-pound, half a length, half-moon, lunette, not too much harm, half measure, made-to-measure clothing, half-boner, chub, implicit meaning, minim rest, half-board, day student, day pupil who eats lunch in the school canteen, half-price seats, half-price places, children's seats, shorty, shortie, spring, slightly salted, slightly salted cream cheese, slightly salted butter, half a century, half-sister, half-sleep, only half-awake, quaver rest, half-price, half-price ticket, halftone, half-hearted tone, semitone, U-turn, Right about face!, half truth, half-life, median life expectancy, half-volley, half-moon, underwhelming, subdued, have school meals, have school lunches, eat lunch at school, stay half board, be half-asleep, be only half-awake, be in a semi-somnolent state, do things by half, turn around, do a U-turn, make a U-turn, do a U-turn, make a U-turn, do things by halves, make a U-turn, a fault confessed is half redressed, win by half a length, there is not too much harm done, open halfway, a sin confessed is half-forgiven, baby grand, baby grand piano, every half an hour, every thirty minutes, spring clothes, semi-dry wine, medium dry wine. To learn more, please see the details below.
Meaning of the word demi
half-préfix (moitié de [qch]) (prefix: Added to front of word stem--for example, unsaid = un+said.) Pour cette recette, il faut une demi-plaquette de beurre. For this recipe, you need half a pack of butter. |
and a halflocution adjectivale (et la moitié de l'unité) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Ce chapitre fait trois pages et demie. Mon petit frère a 10 ans et demi. Ce film dure une heure et demie. This chapter is three and a half pages. My little brother is ten and a half. That film goes on for an hour and a half. |
half pastlocution adjectivale (et 30 minutes) (time) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Il est midi et demi. Il est 10 heures et demie. It's half ten. |
half pastnom féminin (un peu familier (30 minutes après l'heure) (informal) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) - Il est quelle heure ? - La demie. Je ne pourrai finalement pas venir à 20h. On se retrouve à la demie plutôt ? What time is it? Half past. It turns out I'm not going to be able to come at 8. Can we meet at half past instead? |
deminom masculin (verre de bière) (glass of beer) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Un demi correspond à 50 cl de bière en Belgique et à 25 cl en France. "Do you want a pint?" "No, I'll just have a half, thanks." |
half a litre, half-litrenom masculin (demi-litre de vin) (wine: UK) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Elle a commandé un demi de rouge avec son entrecôte. She asked for half a liter (or: a half-liter) of red wine with her rib steak. |
half-back(Sports : joueur entre les avants et les arrières) (sport) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Ce demi a marqué 3 essais durant le match. The half-back scored three tries during the match. |
half-caste, half-breednom masculin (métis) (offensive) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) En Polynésie, un demi est un métis d'européen et de polynésien. In Polynesia, a Demi is a European and Polynesian half-caste (or: half-breed). |
halflocution adverbiale (à moitié) (adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.") Je ne comprends qu'à demi. I only half understand |
semiconsciouslocution adjectivale (presque sans connaissance) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Il n'était qu'à demi conscient quand on l'a emmené à l'hôpital après l'accident. |
half-asleeplocution adjectivale (à moitié réveillé) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") J'ai dû emmener les enfants à demi endormis chez la nounou. |
semi-naked, semi-nude, half-nakedlocution adjectivale (partiellement habillé) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Il est maintenant interdit de se promener dans cette ville balnéaire à demi nu. |
partially clothed, semi-clothed, half-dressedlocution adjectivale (partiellement habillé) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") À demi vêtu, il n'a pas été accepté dans ce restaurant. |
tacitly, implicitlylocution adverbiale (implicitement, évasivement) (expression) (adverb: Describes a verb, adjective, adverb, or clause--for example, "come quickly," "very rare," "happening now," "fall down.") Il a avoué son crime à demi-mot. |
slightly salted butternom masculin (beurre légèrement salé) (dairy product: UK) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Le beurre demi-sel se mange souvent avec des crudités. |
mixed fortunes, mixed resultsnom masculin (situation mitigée) (plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.") C'est une année moyenne, le bilan sera en demi-teinte |
room with half-boardnom féminin (chambre avec repas du soir) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
semi-dry champagnenom masculin (champagne un peu sucré) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
read between the lineslocution verbale (deviner le sens) (figurative) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Les psychologues comprennent souvent beaucoup de choses à demi-mot. |
middle-distance runner(coureur de 800 à 3000 mètres) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
middle-distance racenom féminin (épreuve de 800 à 3000 m) (sports) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
while you are half-asleep, while you are still half-asleeplocution adverbiale (à moitié endormi) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") Il s'est habillé dans un demi-sommeil, il n'a pas pris les deux mêmes chaussettes. He got dressed while he was still half-asleep; he's wearing odd socks. |
fly-halfnom masculin (joueur de rugby) (rugby) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
scrum-half, half back(type de joueur de rugby) (sports) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
semimajor axisnom masculin (ellipse : moitié de grand axe) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
knee sock, knee highnom masculin (chaussette montant jusqu'au genou) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Souvent, sous un pantalon, les femmes portent des demi-bas. |
half-bottlenom féminin (bouteille d'environ 37 cl) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) La fillette est une demi-bouteille de vin. |
half a bottlenom féminin (contenu) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Il a bu une demi-bouteille à lui tout seul. He drank half a bottle by himself. |
half-brigadenom féminin (groupement de bataillons) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
en dashnom masculin (longueur des espaces) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) On utilise le demi-cadratin pour un tiret à la fonction de virgule. |
semicirclenom masculin (moitié de cercle) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Les enfants sont assis en demi-cercle devant le conteur. |
truffledlocution adverbiale (cuisine : avec de la truffe sous la peau) (cookery) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") |
marbled whitenom masculin (type de papillon) (butterfly) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Le demi-deuil est un papillon de taille moyenne. |
half-mourning dress, half mourningnom masculin (vêtement de fin de deuil) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
demigodnom masculin (mi-homme, mi-dieu) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Achille était un demi-dieu. |
half a dozennom féminin (six) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Il me faut une demi-douzaine d’œufs pour ce plat. |
half a dozennom féminin (environ six) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Il doit me rester une demi-douzaine de crayons. |
raynom féminin (Géométrie : moitié de droite) (Geometry) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
semi-finalnom féminin (phase avant la finale) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Notre équipe s'est qualifiée pour la demi-finale. |
semifinalist, semi-finalistnom masculin et féminin (personne en demi-finale) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Les demi-finalistes s'entraînent pour leur match de vendredi. C'est la première fois que le Français est demi-finaliste du tournoi. |
middle-distancenom masculin (course à pied) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Les courses de demi-fond font entre 800 et 3000 mètres. |
half-brothernom masculin (lié par un seul parent) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Mon père et sa seconde femme ont eu un fils, Mathieu qui est mon demi-frère. My Father and his second wife had a son, Mathieu, who is my half-brother. |
retail-wholesalenom masculin invariable (commerce intermédiaire) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Il achète aux grossistes pour revendre au demi-gros. |
spatnom féminin (guêtre courte) (short gaiter) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Les poilus avaient des demi-guêtres. |
demi-habillénom masculin (costume du 1er empire) (historical, Gallicism) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
half an hournom féminin (30 minutes) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Je serai là dans une demi-heure. |
half-light, semi-darknessnom masculin (faible clarté) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Le chauffeur roulait doucement dans le demi-jour matinal. |
half a daynom féminin (matin ou après-midi) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) L'installation de ce programme prend une demi-journée. |
half a litrenom masculin (50cl) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Il faut un demi-litre de lait pour cette recette. |
half a pound, half-poundnom féminin (environ 250 grammes) (weight) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) J'ai acheté une demi-livre de viande chez le boucher. I bought half a pound (or: a half-pound) of meat from the butcher. |
half a lengthnom féminin (moitié de longueur) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Ce cheval a gagné la course d'une demi-longueur. |
half-moon, lunettenom féminin (ouvrage de fortification) (fortification) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) La demi-lune ou ravelin protège souvent une porte d'entrée. |
not too much harmnom masculin (désagrément moindre) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Il y a demi-mal, Pierre n'a qu'un bras cassé dans cet accident. |
half measurenom féminin (disposition insuffisante) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Ce n'est pas avec des demi-mesures que nous sortirons de cette situation. |
made-to-measure clothingnom féminin (Habillement, technique (confection personnalisée d'après patron) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
half-boner, chubnom féminin (érection partielle) (vulgar, slang) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
implicit meaningnom masculin (sous-entendu) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Ce diplomate saisit toujours les demi-mots de ses interlocuteurs. |
minim restnom féminin (Musique : silence de 2 temps) (UK, Music) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Respecte bien la pause, ici, et ne fais pas juste une demi-pause. |
half-boardnom féminin (hébergement avec un repas) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) J'ai loué une chambre en demi-pension. |
day studentnom féminin (déjeune à l'école) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Il est lycéen en demi-pension. |
day pupil who eats lunch in the school canteennom masculin et féminin (élève qui mange à la cantine) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Les demi-pensionnaires ne mangent à la cantine que le midi. |
half-price seats, half-price places, children's seatsnom féminin (place à moitié prix) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Il y a des demi-places pour les enfants de moins de sept ans. |
shorty, shortienom féminin (familier, péjoratif (personne petite) (pejorative, informal) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
springnom féminin (période où la température est modérée) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) En France, le printemps et l'automne sont des demi-saisons. |
slightly saltedadjectif invariable (légèrement salé) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Le beurre demi-sel accompagne bien les fruits de mer. |
slightly salted cream cheesenom masculin invariable (fromage gras et frais) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Le demi-sel est un fromage au lait cru du pays de Bray. |
slightly salted butternom masculin invariable (beurre légèrement salé) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Ce demi-sel fait un excellent caramel. |
half a centurynom masculin (cinquante ans) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Cette entreprise compte déjà un demi-siècle d'existence. This business has already been in existence for half a century. |
half-sisternom féminin (sœur par le père ou la mère) (sharing one parent with you) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Depuis que maman s'est remariée, j'ai deux demi-sœurs. |
half-sleep, only half-awakenom masculin (somnolence) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Avant de se lever, Paul reste parfois dans un état de demi-sommeil. |
quaver restnom masculin (Musique : silence d'un 1/2 temps) (UK) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) En jouant, le musicien fait attention aux demi-soupirs. |
half-priceadjectif invariable (à moitié prix) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Les enfants bénéficient souvent de billets demi-tarif. |
half-price ticketnom masculin (ticket à moitié prix) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Seuls les enfants de moins de 10 ans bénéficient du demi-tarif. |
halftonenom féminin (peinture : faible luminosité) (painting) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Le peintre effectue un tableau en demi-teintes. |
half-hearted tonenom féminin (figuré (à moitié) (figurative) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Octave lui fait des aveux en demi-teinte. |
semitonenom masculin (Musique : moitié d'un ton) (Music) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Le dièse augmente une note d'un demi-ton. |
U-turnnom masculin (moitié de tour) (esp. driving) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Les soldats ont fait demi-tour sur eux-mêmes. The soldiers made an about-turn. |
Right about face!(commandement militaire) (military command) (interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!") |
half truthnom féminin (discours qui omet une part des pensées) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Ses propos ne sont ni tout à fait vrais, ni tout à fait faux, ce ne sont que des demi-vérités. |
half-lifenom féminin (physique : période) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
median life expectancynom féminin (durée moyenne de vie animale) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
half-volleynom féminin (Sports : frappe juste après le rebond) (Sport) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) Ce footballeur a marqué un superbe but de demi-volée. |
half-moonlocution adverbiale (en forme semi-circulaire) (noun as adjective: Describes another noun--for example, "boat race," "dogfood.") Les tables en demi-lune sont parfaites pour les studios. |
underwhelming, subduedlocution adjectivale (mitigé) (adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.") Notre équipe a gagné la coupe mais perdu le championnat, c'est une saison en demi-teinte. |
have school meals, have school lunches, eat lunch at schoollocution verbale (école : manger à la cantine) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Les élèves habitants loin du collège sont en demi-pension. |
stay half boardlocution verbale (hôtel : avoir un repas inclus) (at hotel) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Nous serons en demi-pension dans cet hôtel. |
be half-asleep, be only half-awakelocution verbale (être en somnolence) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Tant que nous n'avons pas bu notre café, nous sommes en demi-sommeil ! |
be in a semi-somnolent statelocution verbale (ralentissement d'activité) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Durant l'été, les entreprises de bâtiment sont en demi-sommeil. |
do things by halflocution verbale (prendre des décisions insuffisantes) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
turn around, do a U-turn, make a U-turnlocution verbale (repartir d'où on vient) Je ferai demi-tour au prochain carrefour. |
do a U-turn, make a U-turnlocution verbale (figuré (se rétracter) (figurative) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Le gouvernement fait demi-tour face aux manifestations. |
do things by halveslocution verbale (faire imparfaitement) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") On arrive à rien en faisant les choses à demi. |
make a U-turnlocution verbale (repartir d'où l'on vient) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") |
a fault confessed is half redressed(reconnaître ses torts est un bon début) |
win by half a lengthlocution verbale (gagner avec une faible avance) (verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.") Nos avironneurs ont gagné d'une demi-longueur. |
there is not too much harm done(c'est moins grave que prévu) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") La tempête a cassé la vitre mais la porte a résisté, il n'y a que demi-mal. |
open halfwaylocution verbale (ouvrir à moitié) Méfiant, il ouvrit à demi sa porte au facteur. |
a sin confessed is half-forgiven(on pardonne les fautes reconnues) Il pense que péché avoué est à demi pardonné, mais il se trompe. |
baby grand, baby grand pianonom masculin (type de piano) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
every half an hour, every thirty minuteslocution adjectivale (chaque 30 minutes) (expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.") |
spring clothesnom masculin (vêtement pour temps variable) (plural noun: Noun always used in plural form--for example, "jeans," "scissors.") Les vêtements de printemps sont des vêtements de demi-saison. |
semi-dry wine, medium dry winenom masculin (vin un peu sucré) (alcoholic drink) (noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.) |
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