finalista

Finalista is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese to designate a person or team that has advanced to the final round of a competition, selection process, or event. The word derives from final, meaning end, with the suffix -ista, and is equivalent to the English term finalist. In addition to sports, finalista is common in cultural contests, academic competitions, and talent shows, where contestants progress through earlier rounds to reach the championship stage. The final is usually the decisive round where the title, prize, or spot is awarded; the competitors who reach it are called finalists.

In sports, the finalists are typically the participants in the last match or series; in tournaments with more than two finalists, there may be multiple final rounds within different categories. In reality television and music competitions, finalistas are the remaining contestants who perform or compete to win the prize. The term is used as both noun and adjective: el finalista, la finalista, un equipo finalista; and in plural finalistas.

The concept parallels terms in other languages: French finaliste, Italian finalista, Portuguese finalista. While the winner is one of the finalists, the label does not itself indicate placement beyond reaching the last stage; a runner-up is typically a finalist who finishes in second place.

See also: finalist (English), final, semi-finalist, runner-up.