final
“final” means “final” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
final, last
Also: ultimate
📝 In Action
Esta es la decisión final.
A2This is the final decision.
El examen final es el viernes.
A2The final exam is on Friday.
Leí el capítulo final del libro anoche.
B1I read the final chapter of the book last night.
end, ending
Also: finale
📝 In Action
El final de la película fue muy triste.
A2The end of the movie was very sad.
Al final del día, estoy muy cansado.
B1At the end of the day, I am very tired.
No me gustó el final del libro.
A2I didn't like the book's ending.
final
Also: playoff
📝 In Action
Mi equipo llegó a la final.
B1My team made it to the final.
¿Quién ganó la final de la Copa del Mundo?
B1Who won the World Cup final?
Las entradas para la final son muy caras.
B2The tickets for the final are very expensive.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: final
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct for 'My team won the tournament final'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'finālis', which means 'belonging to the end'. This itself comes from the Latin word 'finis', meaning 'end', 'limit', or 'boundary'. You can see 'finis' in English words like 'finish' and 'define'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'el final' and 'el fin'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable. 'El final' usually refers to the last part of something, like a movie or a book ('el final de la película'). 'El fin' can mean that too, but it's also used for more abstract ends, like 'el fin de una era' (the end of an era), or for purpose ('el fin justifica los medios' - the end justifies the means). A very common phrase is 'el fin de semana' (the weekend).
Why is 'final' sometimes masculine ('el final') and sometimes feminine ('la final')?
They are actually two different nouns with different meanings, even though they look the same! 'El final' is masculine and means 'the end' or 'the ending'. 'La final' is feminine and refers specifically to 'the final match' or 'final round' in a competition like the World Cup.
Does the adjective 'final' always come after the noun?
Almost always, yes. This is the most natural and common way to say it in Spanish: 'la decisión final', 'el producto final'. Placing it before the noun is very rare and sounds poetic or literary.