últimos

Últimos is the masculine plural form of the Spanish adjective último, meaning last, final, or most recent. As an adjective, it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: último (masculine singular), última (feminine singular), últimos (masculine plural), últimas (feminine plural). The accent on the first syllable marks the correct pronunciation and differentiates forms in writing.

Etymology and meaning: último derives from Latin ultimus, meaning farthest or last, and has long been used in Spanish to indicate the final position in a sequence or the most recent items within a set. In contemporary Spanish, último is often used to indicate recency as well as chronology, rather than mere order.

Usage: último is used to describe the final element of a series or the most recent items. Examples include los últimos días (the last days or the most recent days) and los últimos años (the most recent years). It can also function as a noun phrase, with los últimos meaning “the last ones” or “the latest ones,” typically referring to people or events when the article is present.

Nuances: while sinónimos like más reciente emphasize recency, último can imply both proximity in time and completion of a sequence. In some contexts, the feminine and plural forms are required to match the noun, as in las últimas noticias (the latest news) or los últimos hallazgos (the final findings).

See also: más reciente, final, último paso.