I think the best way of saying this is "mes por medio". Probably it will not sound right to you, but it is an usual expresion.
"Cada otro mes" is a word by word translation of "every other month" and I does not sound right to me.

Guillermo said:

I think the best way of saying this is "mes por medio". Probably it will not sound right to you, but it is an usual expresion."Cada otro mes" is a word by word translation of "every other month" and I does not sound right to me.

Would you still use it if you're using it in the context of: "I am paid semi-monthly." Or would there be a different option? I feel there is a one word translation for this but I just can't think of it. Thank you.

In Spain we say "un mes sí y otro no", but a simple way to say this in standard Spanish is:

meses alternos

"Alterno" is a word used for days, months and years used in an alternating succession, like in "each other month".

"Cada otro mes" is not used in Spain. It sounds like a word by word translation.

Angie Vargas said:

Guillermo said:

I think the best way of saying this is "mes por medio". Probably it will not sound right to you, but it is an usual expresion."Cada otro mes" is a word by word translation of "every other month" and I does not sound right to me.

Would you still use it if you're using it in the context of: "I am paid semi-monthly." Or would there be a different option? I feel there is a one word translation for this but I just can't think of it. Thank you.

Yes, I would use it in that context. You can also use Lazarus' suggestions. Wich one is the best fit will depend on which contry is the translation going to be used. In Agentina, by example "meses alternos" would sound strange, even though is a correct expresion, but "un mes sí y otro no" would be fine .

meses alternos
"Alterno" is a word used for days, months and years used in an alternating succession, like in "each other month".

But that isn't what semi-monthly means. Semi- means half (equals hemi-), so semi-monthly means every half-month, or twice monthly. Bi-monthly would be meses alternos.

I think quincenal can be used as an adjective.

James said:

meses alternos"Alterno" is a word used for days, months and years used in an alternating succession, like in "each other month".But that isn't what semi-monthly means. Semi- means half (equals hemi-), so semi-monthly means every half-month, or twice monthly. Bi-monthly would be meses alternos.I think quincenal can be used as an adjective.

Thanks to all.

I think it was my mistake because I added the sentence after my thanks with "cada otra semana" after Guillermo's first response and perhaps my correction was missed. But an extra thank you to you James as well, that's the word I couldn't remember....I had heard "por quincena" and "quincenal"...thanks so much again to all.

Angie Vargas said:

James said:

meses alternos"Alterno" is a word used for days, months and years used in an alternating succession, like in "each other month".But that isn't what semi-monthly means. Semi- means half (equals hemi-), so semi-monthly means every half-month, or twice monthly. Bi-monthly would be meses alternos.I think quincenal can be used as an adjective.

Thanks to all.I think it was my mistake because I added the sentence after my thanks with "cada otra semana" after Guillermo's first response and perhaps my correction was missed. But an extra thank you to you James as well, that's the word I couldn't remember....I had heard "por quincena" and "quincenal"...thanks so much again to all.

Yes, I missed that part and all my answers were based on "every other month". As James says, "quincenal" is perfect for the use you intend. You can use it as an adjective, as in "pago quincenal". The payment period is called a "quincena".

James said:

But that isn't what semi-monthly means. Semi- means half (equals hemi-), so semi-monthly means every half-month, or twice monthly. Bi-monthly would be meses alternos.

True! I read that comment about "Cada otro mes", and I started witting without thinking, hehe.

Quincenal as an adjective is perfect.