Skip to content

útil

useful

adjective OO-teel Less Common

Origin: From Latin utilis.

Usage Note

Útil is invariable by gender: un consejo útil, una herramienta útil. The written accent is essential — without it the word would stress the final syllable. The plural noun útiles can mean tools or school supplies (útiles escolares), especially in Latin America. The antonym is inútil (useless).

Examples

"Este diccionario es muy útil para los estudiantes."

Natural Translation

This dictionary is very useful for students.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore Spanish by topic