último
/OOL-tee-moh/
last
The final shape in the sequence is el último (last), illustrating the adjective form of the word.
último(Adjective)
last
?at the end of a sequence or series
,final
?the very end, no more after
latest
?the most recent one
,ultimate
?the most important or fundamental
📝 In Action
Diciembre es el último mes del año.
A2December is the last month of the year.
¿Has leído el último libro de esa autora?
B1Have you read that author's latest book?
Te doy una última oportunidad.
B1I'm giving you one final chance.
El último objetivo de la empresa es expandirse a Asia.
B2The company's ultimate goal is to expand into Asia.
💡 Grammar Points
Matches the Noun's Gender and Number
Like most adjectives, 'último' changes its ending to match the thing it's describing. Use 'último' for masculine singular (el último día), 'última' for feminine singular (la última vez), 'últimos' for masculine plural (los últimos años), and 'últimas' for feminine plural (las últimas semanas).
Usually Goes Before the Noun
Unlike many Spanish adjectives that go after the noun, 'último' almost always comes before it. You say 'el último libro' (the last book), not 'el libro último'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'último' and 'pasado'
Mistake: "Fui a la playa el día último."
Correction: Fui a la playa el último día. OR La semana pasada, fui a la playa. Use 'pasado/a' for completed time periods like 'last week' or 'last year'. Use 'último' for the final item in a specific series, like 'the last day of my vacation'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Last vs. Latest
Context is everything! 'Su último libro' can mean 'his latest book' (he might write more) or 'his final book' (he won't write any more). The situation usually makes the meaning clear.
The turtle is el último (the last one) to cross the finish line, illustrating the noun form of the word.
📝 In Action
El último en llegar paga la cena.
B1The last one to arrive pays for dinner.
De todos los pasteles, solo queda el último.
B1Of all the cakes, only the last one is left.
No quiero ser la última en enterarme de las noticias.
B2I don't want to be the last one to find out the news.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Acting as a Noun
You can turn the adjective 'último' into a noun meaning 'the last one' simply by putting 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las' in front of it without a noun. For example, 'el último' (the last man/one) or 'las últimas' (the last women/ones).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'en + verb'
It's very common to see this form followed by 'en' and the base form of a verb (-ar, -er, -ir) to say 'the last one to do something'. Example: 'Fue el último en salir' (He was the last one to leave).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: último
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly says 'I saw his latest movie'?
📚 More Resources
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'.