noun

die Halbzeit, -en

half-time · halftime

Dieser Begriff beschreibt die Pause in der Mitte eines sportlichen Spiels, nach der die zweite Hälfte beginnt.

Definition & meaning

The word "Halbzeit" has two primary meanings in German:

In the context of sports (such as football/soccer, handball, or basketball), it refers to one of the two equal periods into which a match is divided. It is also commonly used to describe the break or interval between these two periods of play.
In a more general or figurative sense, it refers to the midpoint or halfway mark of a specific duration, project, or event. For example, if a four-week holiday reaches the end of the second week, one might say they have reached "Halbzeit."

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun (die Halbzeit). Its plural form is "die Halbzeiten."

It is a compound noun consisting of two parts:

"halb": An adjective meaning "half."
"Zeit": A noun meaning "time."

The word follows a standard German construction where two existing words are joined to create a specific new meaning, literally translating to "half-time."

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms Depending on the context, synonyms include:

Pause: Refers to the break or intermission.
Spielpause: Specifically the break during a game.
Unterbrechung: A general interruption or break.
Mitte: Used when referring to the chronological middle of an event.
Bergfest: A colloquial term used to celebrate reaching the halfway point of a long task or time period (like a work week or military service).

Antonyms

Beginn: The start or beginning of the event.
Anfang: Another word for the start.
Ende: The conclusion or finish of the event.
Vollzeit: Though usually referring to "full-time" work, in a literal sense, it represents the whole duration rather than the half.