half-hour
B1Neutral to formal. The hyphenated form is standard for the noun and adjective; 'half an hour' is more common in informal speech.
Definition
Meaning
A period of thirty minutes.
A short, defined period of time, often used to denote a specific time slot (e.g., a TV programme) or a brief interval.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily functions as a noun (a half-hour) or a compound adjective (a half-hour show). The concept is more frequently expressed as 'half an hour' in everyday conversation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The hyphenated form is standard in both for the noun/adjective. 'Half an hour' is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral. In scheduling (TV, meetings), 'half-hour' is precise and formal.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in written and scheduled contexts than in spontaneous speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
for a half-hourin a half-hourevery half-houra half-hour of [noun]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on the half-hour (at times like 3:30, 4:30)”
- “half-hour of power (intense, focused work period)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for scheduling meetings or breaks: 'We have a half-hour slot at 2 pm.'
Academic
Used for lecture segments or exam parts: 'The first half-hour of the exam is reading.'
Everyday
Common for estimating travel or wait times: 'The journey takes about a half-hour.'
Technical
Used in broadcasting for programme length: 'A standard sitcom is a half-hour.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The BBC aired a new half-hour documentary.
American English
- She took a half-hour lunch break.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The lesson lasts for half an hour.
- Wait here for a half-hour.
- The train arrives every half-hour.
- We watched a half-hour comedy show.
- After a intense half-hour of negotiation, they reached a compromise.
- The programme is a riveting half-hour of investigative journalism.
- The chairman allocated a mere half-hour for discussing the contentious merger, which proved wholly inadequate.
- Her half-hour daily meditation practice fundamentally altered her stress response.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an hour cut in HALF. HALF-HOUR = HALF of an HOUR.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A MEASURABLE RESOURCE (a block of time, a slot).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'полчаса' as one word in English; it's two words or hyphenated: 'half an hour' or 'half-hour'.
- Do not use 'half hour' without a hyphen or article when used as an adjective (e.g., 'half-hour meeting' is correct).
Common Mistakes
- Writing 'half an hour' as 'half a hour' (incorrect article).
- Using 'half-hour' as an adjective without a hyphen: 'a half hour meeting' (should be 'a half-hour meeting').
Practice
Quiz
Which is the correct adjectival form?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Half-hour' is a hyphenated noun or adjective used in more formal or scheduled contexts (a half-hour, a half-hour show). 'Half an hour' is the common spoken phrase for a 30-minute duration.
Yes, but only in certain constructions, usually when not directly modifying a noun. For example: 'The delay was about half an hour.' or informally 'I'll be there in half an hour.' As an adjective before a noun, the hyphen is standard: 'a half-hour delay'.
In British English: /ˌhɑːf ˈaʊə(r)/. In American English: /ˌhæf ˈaʊər/. The stress is typically on 'hour'.
Yes, the noun form can be pluralised: 'half-hours'. For example: 'I've spent countless half-hours waiting in that lobby.'