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último

OOL-tee-mohˈultimo

“último” means “last” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

last, final

Also: latest, ultimate
A row of five simple, brightly colored geometric shapes, with the fifth and final shape on the right side marked with a small star.

📝 In Action

Diciembre es el último mes del año.

A2

December is the last month of the year.

¿Has leído el último libro de esa autora?

B1

Have you read that author's latest book?

Te doy una última oportunidad.

B1

I'm giving you one final chance.

El último objetivo de la empresa es expandirse a Asia.

B2

The company's ultimate goal is to expand into Asia.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • final (final)
  • postrero (last, final (more literary))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • la última vez – the last time
  • a última hora – at the last minute
  • en último lugar – in last place

Idioms & Expressions

  • estar a la última – to be fashionable, up-to-date with the latest trends
  • dar el último adiós – to say a final farewell, usually at a funeral

the last one

NounmB1
A simple race scene where three cartoon animals have crossed the finish line, and a small turtle is lagging far behind, about to cross the line.

📝 In Action

El último en llegar paga la cena.

B1

The last one to arrive pays for dinner.

De todos los pasteles, solo queda el último.

B1

Of all the cakes, only the last one is left.

No quiero ser la última en enterarme de las noticias.

B2

I don't want to be the last one to find out the news.

Word Connections

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • el último de la fila – the last one in line

🔀 Commonly Confused With

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: último

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly says 'I saw his latest movie'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
últimamente(lately, recently) — Adverb
ultimar(to finalize, to put the finishing touches on) — Verb
penúltimo(second to last, penultimate) — Adjective
ultimátum(ultimatum) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
ritmomínimoíntimo
📚 Etymology▼

Comes directly from the Latin word 'ultimus', which is the superlative form of 'ultra' (meaning 'beyond'). So, 'ultimus' literally meant 'the furthest beyond' or 'the most remote', which evolved into its modern meaning of 'last'.

First recorded: Around the 10th century

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: ultimoPortuguese: últimoFrench: ultime

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the real difference between 'último' and 'pasado'?

It's a great question! Use 'pasado/a' for a finished block of time right before the current one, like 'la semana pasada' (last week) or 'el mes pasado' (last month). Use 'último/a' for the final item in any sequence. For example, 'el último día de mis vacaciones' (the last day of my vacation) or 'la última página del libro' (the last page of the book).

Can I put 'último' after the noun, like 'el día último'?

While technically possible in some very old or poetic texts, you should almost never do this in modern Spanish. It will sound strange. Always try to put 'último' before the noun: 'el último día', 'la última persona'.