semi

Semi– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “half.” In some instances, it is used figuratively to mean “partially,” “incompletely,” or “somewhat.” It is often used in a variety of technical and everyday terms.

Semi– comes from Latin sēmi-, meaning “half.” The Greek cognate of sēmi– is hēmi-, also meaning “half,” which is the source of English terms such as hemialgia and hemicardia. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

An example of a word you may have encountered that features semi– is semicolon, “the punctuation mark (;).”

We know semi– means “half,” and a colon is the sign (:). The word colon itself comes from Greek kôlon, meaning “limb; part of a clause or period.” Semicolon literally translates to “half colon.”

What are some words that use the combining form semi-?

• semiannual
• semiautomatic
• semicircle
• semifinal
• semiliterate
• semiprivate

What are some other forms that semi– may be commonly confused with?

• semei-
• septi-

The word literate means “able to read and write.” With this in mind, what does semiliterate mean?