Hälfte

Etymology

From Middle Low German helfte, which pertains to Middle Low German half (“half”). The form entered early modern German via Central German. The alternation -b- ↔ -ft- between halb and Hälfte has not been levelled, probably because the same alternation occurs also—for different reasons—in native High German words (compare schreiben ↔ Schrift). Cognate with Dutch helft.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛlftə/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Hälfte f (genitive Hälfte, plural Hälften)

1. half; fifty percent of something
2. half, share; any of two correlating pieces, whatever the size

   Ich will die größere Hälfte!

   I want the bigger half!

Further reading

• Hälfte in Duden online