puoli

From Proto-Finnic *pooli, from Proto-Uralic *pälä. Cognates include Estonian pool (“half”), Mansi па̄л (pāl, “half, side”), Hungarian fél (“half”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈpuo̯li/, [ˈpuo̞̯li]
• Hyphenation: puo‧li
• Rhymes: -uoli

puoli (not comparable)

1. half
2. when followed by a number representing an hour, similar to half past, but 30 minutes before an hour rather than after

   kun kello on puoli seitsemän ― when the time is half past six

3. As headword in a compound adjective, used to express that something, usually one half of a pair is missing.

   silmäpuoli koira ― one-eyed dog

   korvapuoli kahvikuppi ― earless coffee cup

When used in expressions of time, usually does not inflect, depends on the speaker.

puoli

1. half

   Kumman puolen haluat?

   Which half do you want?

   En saanut puoltakaan rahoistani takaisin.

   I did not get even half of my money back.

2. side

   Tämä puoli ylöspäin.

   This side up.

   Hänellä on pimeä puolensa.

   He has his dark side.

3. aspect, facet, feature

   Asiassa on monta puolta.

   There are many aspects in this issue.

   Mitkä ovat parhaat puolesi? .

   What are your best features?

   huono puoli ― disadvantage, drawback

   hyvä puoli ― advantage, benefit

4. (as headword of compound term) step- (of parent or grandfather who is not blood relative or adopted)

   isäpuoli ― stepfather

1. When talking of two halves the plural form is used.

puolet ja puolet ― half and half

2. When talking about "half of something" puoli is in the plural form, the "something" is in the elative case and the verb is in the singular.

Maailman varoista puolet on veroparatiiseissa.

Half of the world's wealth is located in tax havens.

puoli

1. half