Endgültiges

Endgültiges is the attributive form of the German adjective endgültig, meaning final or definitive. It is used to describe a noun in a way that signals a conclusion, conclusionality, or final status. In normal usage, endgültig is an adjective and remains in lowercase, while the noun it modifies is capitalized when required by German spelling rules (for example, ein endgültiges Urteil or das endgültige Protokoll). The form endgültiges appears in the neuter singular when used with the indefinite article ein or without an article in appropriate contexts, as in ein endgültiges Urteil (a final judgment) or ein endgültiges Angebot (a definitive offer).

Grammatically, endgültig follows standard German adjective declension. With a definite article das, the ending is -e: das endgültige Urteil. With an indefinite article ein, the ending is -es: ein endgültiges Urteil. In plural, without a definite article, the phrase is endgültige Urteile; with a definite article, das endgültige Urteile is rarely used, since plural determinants typically yield endgültige Urteile.

Etymology-wise, endgültig derives from End (end) + - lich, a suffix meaning “having the quality of” or “characterized by,” forming a term that means “pertaining to the end” or “definitive.” It is closely related to endgültiges or das Endgültige when the phrase is treated as a noun, meaning “the final (thing)” in contexts like summaries or legal phrasing.

In usage, endgültiges appears in legal, administrative, and everyday contexts to emphasize finality: eine endgültige Entscheidung, ein endgültiges Protokoll, or das Endgültige, if the intended meaning is to refer to the final element itself. Related terms include endgültig, Ende, final, and definitv.