Pronunciation: [fˈɜːst hˈɑːf] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "first half" can be broken down phonetically as /fərst hæf/. The word "first" is spelled with an "i" but pronounced with a "u" sound, represented by the phonetic symbol /ə/. The word "half" is spelled exactly as it is pronounced, with the "al" sound represented as /æf/. When pronounced together, the word "first half" has a clear and distinct pronunciation that accurately reflects its spelling.
The term "first half" refers to the initial or beginning portion of a whole or a specific period of time, particularly when divided into two equal or unequal parts. It is commonly used to describe the initial half of a game, match, event, or any chronological division that is divided into two distinct parts.
In sports, particularly team sports like football, basketball, or soccer, the first half denotes the first period of play, usually lasting for a specified duration, such as 45 minutes or one hour. It is followed by the second half, which constitutes the remaining portion of the total playing time. Similarly, in other forms of competition or events with time-based segments, such as races or performances, the first half refers to the initial part of the event before the midpoint or intermission.
Moreover, the concept of the first half is not only limited to sports and events. It can also be interpreted in a broader sense, such as when referring to time periods within a year, a fiscal or academic year, or any other designated time frame. For instance, if someone mentions the "first half of the year," they are referring to the initial six months, whereas the "second half" would represent the latter six months of the year.
Overall, the term "first half" is predominantly used to indicate the primary or initial part of a whole, whether it be a game, an event, or a specific time period, providing a distinctive framework to understand and divide a given context into two segments.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "first" originated from the Old English word "fyrst", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "furista". It is related to the Proto-Indo-European root "per", meaning "forward" or "in front".
The term "half" came from the Old English word "healf", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "halbaz". This word is also connected to the Proto-Indo-European root "kelp", meaning "to halve" or "to divide".
When "first" and "half" are combined, the phrase "first half" simply refers to the initial or beginning portion of something that has been divided or split into two equal parts.
