ya terminé de comer
/ʝa teɾmine de komeɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I am done eating" is translated into Spanish as ya terminé de comer.
This phrase is used to state that you have completed a meal. While ya terminé de comer focuses on the completion of the act of eating, you might use other phrases like estoy lleno/a if you want to focus on the physical sensation of being full.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ya terminé de comer literally translates to "already I finished of to eat". In this construction, ya means "already" and terminé is the first-person singular past tense of the verb terminar (to finish).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, Ya he acabado de comer. is a way to say "I am done eating." In Latin American Spanish, Ya dejé de comer. means "I stopped eating."
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the verb terminar in this context, it is followed by the preposition de before an infinitive verb. Additionally, in many Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in Spain, the present perfect ya he terminado de comer is often used to express that the action has just been completed.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝa teɾmine de komeɾ/
Did you know?
- In a formal Spanish dining setting, you signal you are done eating not just with words, but by placing your knife and fork parallel to each other on the plate.
- The word ya is a linguistic relative of the French word 'déjà', as both come from the Latin 'iam'.
- The Spanish verb comer can refer specifically to 'eating' or more broadly to the midday meal, which is the main meal of the day in Spain.
Examples in context
- Ya acabé de comer, ¿y tú?I am done eating, and you?
- ¿Quieres más?Do you want more?
- Ya terminé de comer, gracias.I am done eating, thank you.
- Me siento bien porque ya terminé de comer.I feel good because I am done eating.
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are finishing lunch at a table.
- SofíaYa terminé de comer, Alejandro.I am done eating, Alejandro.
- Alejandro¿Quieres un postre?Do you want a dessert?
- SofíaNo, estoy muy llena.No, I am very full.
- AlejandroEstá bien, vamos a salir.That is fine, let's go out.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comer, de, ya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
