noun
head-final
Linguistic term describing a phrase structure where the head (main element) comes at the end, as in Japanese verb-final clauses or noun-final noun phrases.
日本語は主要部終端型の言語である。
Japanese is a head-final language.
主要部終端型の句構造では、修飾語が主要部の前に置かれる。
In head-final phrase structure, modifiers are placed before the head.
Opposite type: head-initial, where the head comes first (e.g., English verb-object order).
Compound of 主要部 (head, main part) + 終端 (terminal, end) + 型 (type, pattern). A calque from English 'head-final', used in linguistic typology.