Definition

The item or syllable that comes just before the last one in a sequence.

Example

In the word 'banana', the penult is 'na'.

Conversation

Did you know the word 'penultimate' means the second to last?

Yeah, I heard that in a class once, but I forgot about it.

It's interesting how many words have a penult syllable that changes their meaning.

For sure! It makes language so rich and fun to explore.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Penult → It is formed from "paene" (meaning almost) and "ultimus" (meaning last). The word "penult" refers to the syllable that is almost the last in a word, specifically the one before the final syllable.

Memory Tip

Think of 'almost' ('paene') and 'last' ('ultimus') to remember that 'penult' refers to the syllable that is almost the last one in a word.

Visually Confused Words