What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Ya terminé literally translates to "Already I finished".
Which one should you use?
Ya terminé is used when you have finished a task. For example, if you want to say you have just finished, you would use Acabo de terminar. If you want to say you have finished already, you can use Ya acabé. To say you have finished, you might use He terminado or Ya he concluido (I have already concluded). If you mean "done" in the sense of being ready, use Listo. If you mean you are tired/worn out, use Me cansé.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, if you want to say "I am fed up" rather than just having finished a task, you should use Estoy harto/a.
How does it change in a sentence?
Ya terminé uses the preterite tense of the verb terminar to indicate a completed action in the past.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝa teɾmine/
Did you know?
- The word ya is a linguistic cousin to the French word déjà, as both evolved from the Latin word iam.
- In some contexts, Ya terminé can be interpreted as a polite way to signal a waiter that you are finished with your meal and ready for the bill.
- Using the word concluido instead of terminado elevates the phrase to a formal or academic level, often used in legal or official documents.
Examples in context
- He terminado el informe.I have finished the report.
- Ya he concluido mi presentación.I have already concluded my presentation.
- Acabo de terminar el proyecto.I have just finished the project.
- Ya acabé mi tarea.I finished my homework already.
- ¡Listo! Podemos irnos ahora.Done! We can leave now.
- Me cansé de estudiar.I am tired of studying.
- Ya terminé mi tarea.I am done with my homework.
- Ya terminé de leer el libro.I am done reading the book.
- ¡Por fin ya terminé!I am finally done!
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are cleaning the kitchen together.
- MateoYa terminé de lavar los platos.I am done washing the dishes.
- ElenaQué bien, yo también ya terminé.Great, I am done too.
- MateoEntonces podemos descansar ahora.Then we can rest now.
- ElenaSí, Mateo, estoy muy cansada.Yes, Mateo, I am very tired.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
