penúltimo

penultimate

adjective peh-NOOL-tee-moh Rare

Origin: From Latin paenultimus (almost last)

Also means

second to last

Usage Note

Penúltimo is the standard Spanish word for 'second-to-last' and is used in everyday speech far more freely than English 'penultimate'. Note the written accent on the ú — the word is esdrújula (stressed on the antepenult of the full form but on the ú here). The feminine is penúltima. An informal colloquial use: ordering one más y la penúltima signals mock reluctance to keep drinking.

Examples

"Llegaron en el penúltimo lugar de la carrera."

Natural Translation

They finished in second-to-last place in the race.

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