Italian Phrase
Dicembre è l'ultimo mese.
Meaning
This is a straightforward factual statement used to describe the position of December in the Gregorian calendar. It uses the singular form of the verb 'essere' (to be) to link the month name to its chronological status.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing the calendar, teaching time concepts, or planning end-of-year activities. It is common in both educational contexts and casual conversations about the changing seasons.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Dicembreèl'ultimomese
Essere (è)
The verb 'è' is the third-person singular present tense of 'essere', used here to define the subject.
Elision (l')
The definite article 'lo' drops its vowel and takes an apostrophe before 'ultimo' to ensure a smooth phonetic flow.
Mese agreement
'Mese' is a masculine noun ending in 'e', and the adjective 'ultimo' correctly matches its masculine gender.
🗨In Conversation
Qual è l'ultimo mese dell'anno?
What is the last month of the year?
Dicembre è l'ultimo mese.
December is the last month.
✕Common Mistakes
Dicembre è il ultimo mese.
The definite article 'il' must elide to 'l'' before a word starting with a vowel like 'ultimo'.
Dicembre è l'ultima mese.
The noun 'mese' is masculine, so the adjective 'ultimo' must agree in gender and remain masculine.
↔Alternatives
L'anno finisce con dicembre.
The year ends with December.
Dicembre è la fine dell'anno.
December is the end of the year.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, December is a month of great celebration known for 'La Vigilia' (Christmas Eve) and 'Santo Stefano'. It is culturally significant as the time of the 'Settimana Bianca', when many Italians head to the mountains for skiing.