Bedeutung
Right before the deadline.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The concept of 'Rantevou sta tyfla' (blind dates) or social gatherings often involves 'last-minute' confirmations via WhatsApp or Viber. Similar to Greece, but the Cypriot dialect might use 'την ύστατη' more frequently in formal radio broadcasts. Negotiations for shipping or tourism contracts often drag on until the 'teleftaia stigmi' to secure better terms. Students often 'burn the midnight oil' (ξενυχτάνε) to finish assignments 'την τελευταία στιγμή', a habit often joked about in Greek memes.
The 'Article' Rule
Always include 'την' (the) before the phrase to sound natural. Saying just 'τελευταία στιγμή' sounds like a dictionary entry.
Lately vs. Last Minute
Remember: 'Τελευταία' = Lately. 'Την τελευταία στιγμή' = Last minute. Don't swap them!
Bedeutung
Right before the deadline.
The 'Article' Rule
Always include 'την' (the) before the phrase to sound natural. Saying just 'τελευταία στιγμή' sounds like a dictionary entry.
Lately vs. Last Minute
Remember: 'Τελευταία' = Lately. 'Την τελευταία στιγμή' = Last minute. Don't swap them!
The Genitive Trick
Use 'της τελευταίας στιγμής' as an adjective. Example: 'εισιτήρια της τελευταίας στιγμής' (last-minute tickets).
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing words to say 'I arrived at the last minute'.
Έφτασα ___ _________ ______.
The standard idiom uses the feminine accusative 'την τελευταία στιγμή'.
Which sentence is correct for 'I don't like last-minute changes'?
Choose the correct sentence:
You can use the phrase as an adverb (when the change happens) or as a genitive modifier (what kind of change).
Match the phrase to the most likely situation.
Situation: You barely caught the train before the doors closed.
'Πρόλαβα' means 'I made it/I was in time'.
Complete the dialogue.
Α: Γιατί τρέχεις; Β: Πρέπει να στείλω αυτό το μέιλ, η προθεσμία λήγει και είμαι πάλι ___ _________ ______.
The speaker is procrastinating and finishing at the last minute.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenΈφτασα ___ _________ ______.
The standard idiom uses the feminine accusative 'την τελευταία στιγμή'.
Choose the correct sentence:
You can use the phrase as an adverb (when the change happens) or as a genitive modifier (what kind of change).
Situation: You barely caught the train before the doors closed.
'Πρόλαβα' means 'I made it/I was in time'.
Α: Γιατί τρέχεις; Β: Πρέπει να στείλω αυτό το μέιλ, η προθεσμία λήγει και είμαι πάλι ___ _________ ______.
The speaker is procrastinating and finishing at the last minute.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNot necessarily. It can describe a stressful situation, but it can also describe a lucky escape or a spontaneous adventure.
No, you can't say 'He is a last-minute person' using this phrase directly. You would say 'Τα κάνει όλα την τελευταία στιγμή' (He does everything at the last minute).
'Στιγμή' is a moment (point in time), 'λεπτό' is a minute (60 seconds). In this idiom, only 'στιγμή' is used.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in professional contexts to explain a delay or a quick change.
You can add 'κυριολεκτικά' (literally) or use 'την ύστατη στιγμή'.
No, 'στιγμή' is always feminine, so 'τελευταία' remains feminine.
Yes. 'Έγινε την τελευταία στιγμή' (It happened...) and 'Θα γίνει την τελευταία στιγμή' (It will happen...).
Yes, but 'στο παρά πέντε' is more colorful/idiomatic. Use 'τελευταία στιγμή' for a more direct description.
In Greek, 'την' is used before words starting with 'τ' to help with pronunciation flow.
You can say 'το τελευταίο δευτερόλεπτο', but it's much less common than 'την τελευταία στιγμή'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Στο παρά πέντε
similarAt five to [the hour]
Την ύστατη ώρα
specialized formAt the ultimate hour
Στο τσακ
synonymBy a whisker
Μόλις πρόλαβα
builds onI just barely made it
