middle
vs
between

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"Middle" is a noun which is often translated as "el medio", and "between" is a preposition which is often translated as "entre". Learn more about the difference between "middle" and "between" below.

middle(

mih

duhl

)

A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).

noun

1. (location)

a. el medio

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

The truck stopped in the middle of the street.El camión paró en el medio de la calle.

b. el centro

(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(M)

They are going to meet in the middle of the city.Se van a reunir en el centro de la ciudad.

c. la mitad

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

Madrid is located in the middle of Spain.Madrid se ubica en la mitad de España.

2. (time)

a. la mitad

(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).

(F)

By the middle of the game, the stadium was already empty.Para la mitad del partido, el estadio ya estaba vacío.

An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).

adjective

3. (related to position)

a. medio

My family belongs to the middle class.Mi familia pertenece a la clase media.

between(

bih

twin

)

A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).

preposition

1. (in time)

a. entre

I expect them to get in between noon and 1 pm.Los espero entre las doce y la 1 pm.

This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.

no direct translation

If you use a coupon at our store between now and Thursday, you'll get 20% off your entire order.Si usa su cupón en nuestra tienda de aquí al jueves obtendrá un 20% de descuento en todo el pedido.

The restaurant was temporarily closed between July 1 and July 30.El restaurante estuvo cerrado temporalmente del 1 al 30 de julio.

2. (in the spatial middle of)

a. entre

Bixby Bridge is between Carmel-By-The-Sea and Big Sur, on Highway 1.Bixby Bridge está entre Carmel-By-The-Sea y Big Sur, sobre la ruta 1.

3. (from one point to another)

a. entre

The Tren Patagónico runs between Viedma and San Carlos de Bariloche.El Tren Patagónico corre entre Viedma y San Carlos de Bariloche.

4. (in the numerical middle of)

a. entre

He must have spent between $30,000 and $40,000 on his new car.Ha de haber gastado entre $30,000 y $40,000 en su carro nuevo.

5. (either one or the other)

a. entre

You can't have both, you have to choose between the chocolate bar or the ice cream.No puedes comerte los dos, tienes que elegir entre el chocolate y el helado.

6. (shared by)

a. entre

Let's split the bill between all of us.Compartamos la cuenta entre todos.

7. (jointly)

a. entre

Talks are underway between the three countries to find a solution to the crisis.Están en marcha conversaciones entre los tres países para encontrar una solución a la crisis.

8. (taking the combined effect)

a. entre

Between working and going to school, she has no time left for outdoor activities.Entre el trabajo y el estudio, no le queda tiempo para actividades al aire libre.

9. (restricted to)

a. entre

Between you and me, I don't think she's the right girl for him.Entre tú y yo, no me parece la chica adecuada para él.

An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).

adverb

10. (in an intermediate place or state)

a. en medio

There are two armchairs with a window between.Hay dos sillones con una ventana en medio.

b. entremedio

Either you are his friend or his foe; there's nothing between.O eres su amigo o su enemigo, no hay nada entremedio.

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