General Rule: Spanish words rarely end in "U" because the letter "U" is usually pronounced as a vowel sound in Spanish. When it's combined with a "Q" or "G" to make a "W" sound, it's not considered the final letter of the word.
Exceptions:
* Words of foreign origin: Some loanwords from other languages may retain their original spelling, including an ending "U":
* Virus: (from Latin)
* Curriculum: (from Latin)
* Guru: (from Sanskrit)
* Menu: (from French)
* Plural nouns ending in "u" followed by "s": These are relatively uncommon, but some exist:
* Los virus: (the viruses)
* Los currículums: (the curriculums)
* Proper nouns: Some names may end in "U" even if they are not loanwords:
* Jesús: (Jesus)
* Paulu: (a male name)
* Maru: (a female name)
Important note: While words ending in "U" are rare, it's important to remember that the Spanish language is constantly evolving. New words may be borrowed from other languages, and some may be created with endings that are not traditional.