acabaré contigo
/akabaɾe kontiɡo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I will end you" is translated into Spanish as acabaré contigo.
This phrase is a threat used to tell someone that you will kill them or destroy them completely. While the verb acabar literally means "to finish," when used in this specific construction, it functions as a violent idiom meaning to destroy or kill someone.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the first-person singular future of acabar (to finish/end) and the prepositional phrase contigo (with you).
Which one should you use?
The phrase acabaré contigo uses the future tense, but you may also hear the periphrastic future voy a acabar contigo, which is a common way to express the same threat, often sounding more immediate or certain in spoken Spanish.
How do you pronounce it?
/akabaɾe kontiɡo/
Did you know?
- Depending on the country, a person might replace acabaré contigo with te voy a dar cuello, which literally means 'I am going to give you neck'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, acabar can be used as a slang term for having sexual intercourse, making the phrase potentially ambiguous in very specific street contexts.
- The word contigo is a linguistic fossil from Latin that essentially says 'with you with'.
Examples in context
- No aceptaré más engaños, te haré desaparecer.I won't tolerate any more deception, I will make you disappear.
- Esa actitud no se tolera, ¡te voy a acabar!That attitude is not tolerated, I'm going to end you!
- Si te atreves a retarme, te voy a liquidar.If you dare challenge me, I will liquidate you.
- Si vuelves a traicionarme, acabaré contigo.If you betray me again, I will end you.
- No me amenaces, acabaré contigo de verdad.Don't threaten me, I will actually end you.
- No sabes lo que te espera, acabaré contigo.You don't know what awaits you, I will end you.
Example conversation
A tense confrontation between two rivals in a dark alley.
- Javier¡No te acerques más o acabaré contigo!Don't come any closer or I will end you!
- ElenaNo me das miedo, Javier.You don't scare me, Javier.
- JavierTe lo advierto, te destruiré.I am warning you, I will destroy you.
- ElenaInténtalo si te atreves.Try it if you dare.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contigo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
