penultima
9.9
The syllable before the last one in a word
- noun
- /ˌpɛnˈʌltɪmə/
- Specialized
:
penúltima
- In the word 'banana', the penultima is 'na'.
Examples
-
Many Spanish words put the stress on the penultima.
-
When pronouncing Latin, pay attention to whether the stress falls on the penultima.
-
In the word 'banana', the penultima is 'na'.
-
The penultimas in 'family' and 'happiness' are different.
-
In the word 'banana', the penultima is 'na'.
-
Many Spanish words put the stress on the penultima.
-
In the word 'family', the penultima is the syllable 'mil'.
Synonyms
1
7.5
The next to last syllable in a word
is used generally to mean the next to last syllable when counting from the end
9.9
The second-to-last part of a word that you say, for example the 'na' in banana
counts the same syllable position generally rather than focusing on stress
Surface Forms
penultima singular
penultimas plural
Etymology
The word penultima comes from Latin parts pen- meaning 'almost' and ultima meaning 'last', the same ultima you see in ultimate. So a penultima is the 'almost last' syllable, the next-to-last part of a word.