últimamente
“últimamente” means “lately” in Spanish (referring to trends or habits in the recent past).
lately, recently
Also: of late
📝 In Action
¿Has visto alguna buena película últimamente?
A2Have you seen any good movies lately?
Últimamente me he levantado muy temprano para estudiar.
B1Recently, I have been getting up very early to study.
La situación económica en el país ha mejorado un poco últimamente.
B2The economic situation in the country has improved a little recently.
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "últimamente" in Spanish:
of late→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: últimamente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'últimamente'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
This word comes from the Latin adjective *ultimus*, meaning 'last' or 'furthest.' Over time, adding the suffix -mente turned it into an adverb, originally meaning 'in the last way,' but its meaning evolved to describe actions happening during the most 'recent' or 'last' period of time leading up to now.
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between *últimamente* and *recientemente*?
Both mean 'recently,' but *últimamente* usually refers to a longer, less defined period of time (like 'lately' or 'these days') and often describes a trend or continuous action. *Recientemente* usually points to a more specific event that just happened ('just now' or 'a short time ago').
Can I use *últimamente* with the simple past (Pretérito)?
Yes, but it's less common. When used with the simple past, it emphasizes the completion of a series of events within that recent period. However, it sounds much more natural with the Present Perfect (*He visto*) or the Simple Present (if describing a current state).