τελευταίος
teleftaíos/teleˈfteos/
The Greek word for "last", meaning final, is τελευταίος (teleftaíos). If unsure, use τελευταίος. Wiktionary also lists τελικός (telikós) and ύστατος (ýstatos).
Meaning: final (adj)
Ways to say it
| Greek | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| τελευταίος | teleftaíos | /teleˈfteos/ | |
| τελικός | telikós | masculine | |
| ύστατος | ýstatos | masculine |
τελευταίος is the most commonly used word for "last" throughout Greece, for the last person in a line or the last of anything.
Which one should you use?
Use τελικός for something conclusive or decisive, the final result of a process rather than just the last one in a line. ύστατος is a formal or literary word for "the very last".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective agrees with its noun. Use τελευταίος for masculine singular, τελευταία for feminine or neuter forms and τελευταίοι for masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
It is pronounced /teleˈfteos/, romanized teleftaíos.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use the adverb τελικά when you need an adjective. τελικά means "finally" or "in the end" and describes how a situation turned out. To mean "to last" in the sense of continue over time, use the verb διαρκώ.
Did you know?
- In Ancient Greek, the root of τελευταίος was τελευτή, a word that specifically carried the heavy meaning of the 'end of life' or 'death'.
- The root τέλος in τελικός can mean 'end' but also refers to a 'completion' or 'purpose'. This is the same root found in the English word 'teleology' which is the study of design or purpose in nature.
- The adverb τελικά is frequently used as a conversational filler meaning 'actually' or 'as it turns out'. It is used to describe a change of plans or an unexpected outcome rather than just a sequence of time.
Examples in context
- Ποιος είναι τελευταίος, Είμαι μετά από σας.Who's last? I'm after you.Here τελευταίος asks who is last in a queue.Tatoeba #5426165 by Zeus, translation #9280815 by Nylez
- Ο τελευταίος μου άντρας ήταν πολύ ηλίθιος.My last husband was really stupid.Here τελευταίος means the most recent husband.Tatoeba #1402371 by enteka, translation #371396 by saeb
- Είναι ο τελευταίος δρόμος για το σπίτι.Einai o teleftaios dromos gia to spiti.It is the last road to the house.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “last” translations and entries τελευταίος, τελικός, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries τελευταίος, τελικός, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
