numbers - Usage of "second/third/fourth ... last"


In German there is a pattern for counting items from the end of a list. The last item is "das letzte", the one before is "das vorletzte", the one before that is "das vorvorletzte" and for each other item there's just another "vor" added.


While searching for an English translation for the German word "vorvorvorletzte" I came across several translations and discussions but none of them showed any usage pattern. Furthermore I didn't find any indication of which variant ("to", "from", no preposition) is used most nor to what area of the world those translations apply.


So I am still wondering: When there are items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, how can/will item 2 be called?



  • third from last?

  • fourth from last?

  • anteantepenultimate?

  • fourth-last?

  • fourth to last?

  • the last but three item?

  • the last but four item?


Is this a question of dialect/local use?




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