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"A principios" is a phrase which is often translated as "at the beginning", and "a mediados" is a phrase which is often translated as "in the middle of". Learn more about the difference between "a principios" and "a mediados" below.
a principios(
ah
 
preen
-
see
-
pyohs
)
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
phrase
a. at the beginning
Se conocieron a principios de año y se casaron en julio.They met at the beginning of the year and got married in July.
b. early
El curso empieza a principios de otoño y acaba antes de Navidad.The course will start in early fall, and will finish before Christmas.
c. at the turn (of the century)
El autor nació a principios del siglo XX, y murió en la Segunda Guerra Mundial.The author was born at the turn of the 20th century, and died in the Second World War.
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a mediados(
ah
 
meh
-
dyah
-
dohs
)
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
phrase
a. in the middle of
Recogeremos la cosecha a mediados de agosto.We will gather the harvest in the middle of August.
b. halfway through
Quedé embarazada a mediados del año pasado.I got pregnant halfway through last year.
c. midway through
Las clases comienzan a mediados de marzo.School begins midway through March.
d. in mid- (used with months)
Javier va a regresar de Japón a mediados de mayo.Javier is coming back from Japan in mid-May.
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