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nounadjective

el útil

useful · supply

Sirve para ayudar o hacer más fácil una tarea o actividad.

Definition & meaning

Útil means useful or helpful: something or someone that serves a purpose or provides a benefit.

It can also mean usable, effective, or working in specific contexts, such as available space or business days.

Grammar & Word origin

  • An adjective with the same singular form for masculine and feminine nouns: un libro útil (“a useful book”), una herramienta útil (“a useful tool”).
  • Its plural is útiles .
  • It comes from Latin utilis, meaning “useful” or “advantageous.”
  • As a masculine noun, el útil can mean a tool or implement. In the plural, útiles can refer to supplies or utensils.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • práctico — “practical”; emphasizes convenience or suitability for use.
  • provechoso — “beneficial”; emphasizes the benefit gained.
  • servicial — “helpful”; usually describes a person willing to help others.

Antonyms

  • inútil — “useless”; the direct opposite.
  • inservible — “unusable” or “unfit for use,” often because something is damaged.

Common phrases & collocations

  • ser útil — to be useful.
  • vida útil — useful life or service life.
  • día hábil — a business or working day; día útil is also used in some regions.
  • útiles escolares — school supplies.

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Examples

Este libro es muy útil para estudiar.adjective

This book is very useful for studying.

Esta herramienta es muy útil.adjective

This tool is very useful.

Necesito comprar útiles para la escuela.Word type unavailable

I need to buy supplies for school.

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