ultimo
/ˈul.ti.mo/
The English word 'last' is translated into Italian as ultimo.
The word ultimo is an adjective meaning 'final'. If you want to express that something is occurring in the final position of a sequence or is being done after everything else, you can use the adverbial phrase per ultimo. Relatedly, if you want to use a verb meaning 'to endure' or 'to continue over time', use durare.
Meaning: final (adj)
Which one should you use?
When you want to use the word as a noun to mean 'the last one', it is preceded by the definite article, such as in l'ultimo.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, ultimo must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use ultima for feminine singular nouns, ultimi for masculine plural nouns and ultime for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈul.ti.mo/. It has three syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- In Italian, the word ultimo can be used to describe the youngest child in a family, referring to them as l'ultimo figlio.
- To describe the very last piece of something, such as the last slice of pizza, Italians use l'ultima fetta, but if they mean 'the final straw' in an argument, they use the phrase la goccia che ha fatto traboccare il vaso.
- In a list of people, calling someone l'ultimo can sometimes imply they are the least important or the most insignificant in a social hierarchy.
Examples in context
- Ha finito per ultimo.He finished last.This sentence shows how to use ultimo to describe finishing at the end of a sequence.Tatoeba #8499769 by Guybrush88, translation #8480748 by CH
- Tom è arrivato ultimo.Tom arrived last.This sentence uses ultimo to describe arriving in the final position.Tatoeba #2608225 by Guybrush88, translation #37189 by CK
- L'ultimo è il migliore.The last one is the best.This sentence uses the article with ultimo to mean 'the last one'.Tatoeba #2439982 by Guybrush88, translation #2439983 by CK
- 305 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Martina are deciding which movie to watch.
- FrancescoQual è l'ultimo film della lista?Which is the last movie on the list?
- MartinaL'ultimo è un documentario sulla natura.The last one is a documentary about nature.
- FrancescoPreferisco guardare quello per primo.I prefer to watch that one first.
- MartinaVa bene, Francesco, scegliamo quello.Alright, Francesco, let's choose that one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “last” translations and entries ultimo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
