How Do You Spell HALF-BILLION?

Pronunciation: [hˈɑːfbˈɪli͡ən] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "half-billion" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable "half" is pronounced as /hæf/, with the "a" pronounced as the short "a" sound. The second syllable "bil" is pronounced as /bɪl/, with the "i" pronounced as the short "i" sound. The final syllable "lion" is pronounced as /ˈlʌn/, with the emphasis on the first syllable and the "o" pronounced as the schwa sound. Therefore, the correct spelling of "half-billion" is phonetically represented as /hæfˈbɪl.jən/.

HALF-BILLION Meaning and Definition

  1. Half-billion is a numerical expression that refers to a quantity equal to 500 million, or precisely, half of a billion. It serves as an adjective and a noun to represent a substantial amount that is near the halfway point between a billion and a million. The term is constructed by combining the word "half," which indicates a division into two equal parts, and "billion," a cardinal number equal to a thousand millions or 1,000,000,000.

    When used as a noun, half-billion signifies a specific quantity of 500 million units or entities. This term is commonly employed to describe vast sums of money, population sizes, or quantities of objects that reach the impressive milestone of half a billion. It showcases the magnitude and significance of the number, often emphasizing its size and importance in comparison to smaller quantities or smaller multiples of a million.

    As an adjective, half-billion modifies a noun, generally quantifying a particular attribute related to a half-billion. For instance, it can describe a half-billion-dollar venture, indicating an investment, cost, or revenue valued at 500 million dollars. It can also be used to describe a project impacting a half-billion people or a market involving the sale of half-billion units. In all these instances, half-billion signifies a substantial quantity that is positioned approximately midway between a million and a billion.

Common Misspellings for HALF-BILLION

  • galf-billion
  • balf-billion
  • nalf-billion
  • jalf-billion
  • ualf-billion
  • yalf-billion
  • hzlf-billion
  • hslf-billion
  • hwlf-billion
  • hqlf-billion
  • hakf-billion
  • hapf-billion
  • haof-billion
  • hald-billion
  • halc-billion
  • halv-billion
  • halg-billion
  • halt-billion
  • halr-billion
  • half0billion

Etymology of HALF-BILLION

The word "half-billion" is a compound word consisting of "half" and "billion".

1. "Half" originates from the Old English word "healf", which meant "one of two equal parts" or "side". The word can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*halba", with similar meanings. This root ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European "*kelep-", meaning "side" or "divide".

2. "Billion" comes from the French word "billion", which was first recorded in the late 15th century and meant "a million millions" (1,000,000,000,000). The French term was coined as a multiplier based on the earlier "bi-" (two) and "-illion" (a million) used in reference to large numbers.

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