Penultima - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Penultima refers to the second-to-last item in a series, such as the penultimate chapter of a book or the penultimate syllable in a word. It highlights near-final position.
Definition:
The second-to-last syllable or item in a series.
Synonyms:
penultimate, next-to-last, second-to-last
Part of Speech:
noun, adjective
Antonyms:
first, last
Common Collocations:
penultima stress, penultima syllable, penultima position
Derivatives:
penultimate, penultimately
Usage Tips:
Use "penultima" to refer to the second-to-last element in linguistics or sequences.
Common Phrases:
stress the penultima, the penultima rule, before the penultima
Etymology:
From Latin "paenultima," meaning "almost last," from "paene" (almost) + "ultima" (last).
Examples:
- 1. The penultima in "banana" is the syllable "na."
- 2. She emphasized the penultima when pronouncing the word correctly.
- 3. The penultima chapter sets up the story's climax.
- 4. In Spanish, accent marks often fall on the penultima syllable.