¿terminaste?
In Spanish, "are you done?" is expressed as ¿terminaste?
This phrase is used to ask if someone has finished a task or an activity. While English uses the present tense "are you done?", Spanish uses the past tense "did you finish?" to express the same idea.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ¿terminaste? uses the preterite tense and is used when addressing someone informally (tú).
When do people say it?
When someone asks if you are finished, a common way to respond is Sí, ya terminé (Yes, I'm already done) or, if you are still working, Todavía no (Not yet).
Did you know?
- The word terminar shares a root with the English word 'terminate', but in Spanish, it is used far more casually for everyday activities like finishing a sandwich.
- While ¿terminaste? is common, some regions use the phrase ¿ya está? to ask if something is finished, which literally means 'is it already?'
- In many parts of Latin America, people might use the word listo to mean 'done' or 'ready'. If someone asks ¿Estás listo?, they are often asking if you are ready to go or if you have finished preparing.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, señor García. ¿Ha terminado de revisar el informe?Good morning, Mr. Garcia. Have you finished reviewing the report?
Example conversation
Mateo is waiting for María to finish getting ready.
- MateoMaría, ¿terminaste?María, are you done?
- MaríaCasi, solo me falta el zapato.Almost, I just need my shoe.
- MateoEstá bien, te espero aquí.That's fine, I'll wait for you here.
- María¡Listo! Ya terminé.Ready! I'm done now.
