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finale

Etymology and origin of the English word finale

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1724
Borrowed from
Italian finale
Ultimate origin
Latin (finalis)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /fɪˈnɑːli, fə-/ (UK); /fəˈnɑli, fɪ-/, /fəˈnæli, fɪ-/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Italian finale, the noun use of the adjective finale, final,[2][3][4] from Latin fīnālis, of an end, from fīnis, end (see final, finish).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in English in 1724 as an Italian word in a glossary of musical terms;[2][3][5] as an English word, the last part of a musical composition, 1783.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The conclusion or end of anything, sometimes a final catastrophe, is from 1785,[5] and figurative use is by 1810.[3] The last scene or closing part of a drama or other public entertainment is from 1814.[5] A verb finale, to conclude, appears in 1797.[5]

Timeline

  • 1724 – an Italian word in English.[2]
  • 1783 – a musical finale.[2]
  • 1785 – a conclusion.[5]
  • 1814 – the end of a show.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. The concluding part of a performance, show or event.
  2. (music) The last movement or section of a composition.

Word family

  • grand finale

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Finale.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/finale. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·