أخير
akhīr
The English word 'last' is translated into Arabic as أخير (akhīr).
The word أخير is an adjective meaning 'final'. When you want to express the adverbial sense of 'finally' or 'at last', you use the form أخيراً.
Meaning: final (adj)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between أخير (akhīr), which means 'final/last' and the similar-looking word آخر (ākhir), which means 'other' or 'another'. Additionally, while أخير is the adjective, the adverbial form أخيراً is used to mean 'finally' or 'at last'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'the last', add the definite article 'al-' to the beginning of the word to form الأخير. Because it is an adjective, أخير must agree with the gender of the noun it describes. For feminine nouns, use the form أخيرة by adding the feminine ending.
How do you pronounce it?
akhīr
Did you know?
- In Arabic, the word الأخير is often used in a religious context to describe God as 'The Last', meaning the one who remains after all creation ceases to exist.
- The root of أخير is related to the word أخر which means 'to delay' or 'to put back'. This links the concept of being 'last' directly to the act of pushing something to the end of a line.
- The term الرمق الأخير describes 'the last breath' or 'the last spark of life', often used in literature to depict a dramatic struggle for survival.
Examples in context
- و أخيراً حقق هدفه.At last he achieved his goal.This sentence shows the use of the adverbial form أخيراً to mean 'at last'.Tatoeba #458117 by saeb, translation #389165 by U2FS
- و أخيراً حلّت المشكلة.At last, she solved the problem.Tatoeba #419576 by saeb, translation #39844 by CK
- و أخيراً وصلنا إلى القرية.At last, we arrived at the village.Tatoeba #371603 by saeb, translation #39893 by CK
- آخِر مُشَارَكَةٍLast contribution
- فِي النِّهَايَةِ، نَجَحْنَاIn the end, we succeeded
- أخِر كَلِمَةThe last word
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nour and Omar are talking about a course they are taking.
- نور Nourهل هذا هو الدرس أخير؟hal hadha huwa ad-dars akheer?Is this the last lesson?
- عمر Omarنعم، اليوم هو اليوم أخير.na'am, al-yawm huwa al-yawm akheer.Yes, today is the last day.
- نور Nourأنا سعيدة لأننا انتهينا.ana sa'ida li'annana intahayna.I am happy that we finished.
- عمر Omarوأنا أيضاً يا نور.wa ana aydan ya Nour.Me too, Nour.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
