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"Media" is a noun which is often translated as "stocking", and "de media" is a phrase which is often translated as "on average". Learn more about the difference between "media" and "de media" below.
la media(
meh
-
dyah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
a. stocking (above the knee)
Te hará falta un liguero para sujetar las medias.You'll need a garter belt to hold up your stockings.
2. (clothing) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. average
Me gusta andar y hago una media de 20 kilómetros a la semana.I like walking and I do an average of 20 kilometers a week.
4. (colloquial) (time)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
las medias
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
6. (clothing)
a. pantyhose (up to the waist) (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
¡Me hice una carrera en las medias nuevas!I have a run in my new pantyhose!
b. tights (up to the waist) (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
¡Qué frío hace! ¡Ojalá llevara medias gruesas!It's really cold today! I wish I was wearing thick tights!
a. media
Es evidente que los medias influyen en las actitudes sociales.It's obvious that social attitudes are influenced by the media.
de media(
deh
meh
-
dyah
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. on average
De media, vienen alrededor de 500 personas a comer a nuestro restaurante cada semana.On average, around 500 people come to our restaurant for lunch every week.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Los elefantes viven unos 50 años de media.Elephants live an average of 50 years.
Yo traduzco 4,000 palabras de media al día.I translate an average of 4,000 words a day.
a. knitting
Voy a comprar lana y un par de agujas de media para hacerte una bufanda.I'm going to buy some wool and a pair of knitting needles to knit you a scarf.
