student asking question

What does "demi-god" mean? Can I use a prefix "demi-" to other words as well?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

In this video, Maui means "demi-god" in the literal sense. He is actually a demi-god (lesser god). Demi- (meaning half in French) is used as a prefix for other words. However, it's not common to simply attach "demi-" to any noun. It's best to avoid doing so unless it's a specific noun that is known for having "demi-" attached to it (like "demi-god"). Ex: Maui is a demi-god, a lesser god in Hawaiian mythology. "Demi-god" is also used as slang to mean an extremely attractive person. Ex: Oh my god, Max is such a demi-god.

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