Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Medium in Spanish: Mediano
Mediano · adjective · meh-dee-AH-noh
The English word 'medium' translates primarily to 'mediano' when describing size (between small and large), 'medio' when referring to a midpoint or average, and 'médium' when talking about a spiritual psychic who communicates with the dead.
meh-dee-AH-noh
Quiero una pizza mediana con champiñones y aceitunas.
I want a medium pizza with mushrooms and olives.
Medium in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for medium, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| mediano | medium | meh-dee-AH-noh | Default, widely understood |
| medio | medium | general/midpoint | |
| médium | medium | spiritual medium/psychic |
How Native Speakers Use Mediano
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Clothing size
¿Tiene esta camiseta en talla mediana?
Do you have this t-shirt in medium size?
'Mediano/mediana' is the standard term for medium-sized clothing and food portions.
Cooking doneness
Me gustaría el filete a término medio, por favor.
I'd like the steak medium, please.
'Término medio' specifically describes meat cooked to a medium doneness.
Psychic meaning
La médium afirmó que podía comunicarse con los espíritus.
The medium claimed she could communicate with spirits.
'Médium' (with accent) is borrowed from French/English and refers to a spiritual psychic.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Mediano
Gender mismatch
Incorrect: Una bebida mediano.
Correct: Una bebida mediana.
The adjective 'mediano' must change to 'mediana' to agree with the feminine noun 'bebida' — Spanish adjectives always match the gender of what they describe.
Confusing medio and mediano
Incorrect: Quiero un café medio.
Correct: Quiero un café mediano.
When ordering a medium-sized item, 'mediano' is correct because 'medio' would imply 'half a coffee' rather than a mid-sized portion.
Lock in Medium Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Mediano used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using mediano in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Quiero una pizza mediana con champiñones y aceitunas. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About Medium in Spanish
- When do I use 'medio' versus 'mediano'?
- Use 'mediano' when describing something of intermediate size between small and large, such as clothing or food portions. 'Medio' works for abstract midpoints, averages, halves, or as part of fixed expressions like 'término medio' (medium-rare) and 'clase media' (middle class).
- How do I order a medium drink at a restaurant?
- Simply say '¿Me da una bebida mediana?' or specify the drink, like 'un refresco mediano.' Most fast-food chains in Spanish-speaking countries use 'pequeño/mediano/grande' as their size labels, mirroring the small/medium/large system.
- Does 'médium' have a plural form?
- The plural of 'médium' (psychic) is 'médiums,' following the standard pattern for borrowed words in Spanish. Since it's a loanword with an accent mark, it doesn't follow typical Spanish pluralization rules for words ending in consonants.