últimamente
OOL-tee-mah-MEN-tay
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The '-mente' Adverb Rule
Adverbs ending in '-mente' are created by taking the feminine form of an adjective (like última from último) and adding this ending. This is the Spanish equivalent of adding '-ly' in English.
Best Verb Tense
Because últimamente refers to an unfinished time period that connects the past to the present, it is most often used with the Present Perfect tense (he estado, has visto), especially in Spain.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'últimamente' for 'Finally'
Mistake: "Using *últimamente* to mean 'finally' or 'in the end.'"
Correction: Use *finalmente* or *por último* when you mean 'finally' (to list the last item or conclusion). *Últimamente* only means 'lately' or 'recently'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Flexible Placement
As an adverb, últimamente can be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence, or sometimes near the verb it modifies. Example: He viajado mucho últimamente. or Últimamente he viajado mucho.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: últimamente
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'últimamente'?
📚 More Resources
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).