Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| acabar | /akaˈbaɾ/ |
| fenecer | /feneˈθeɾ/ /feneˈseɾ/ |
| finir | /fiˈniɾ/ |
The primary way to express the completion of a task or process is with acabar. Related nouns like meta or fin mean 'end', while acabado refers to a protective coating or surface texture. If you want to express that you have just performed an action, use the construction acabar de followed by an infinitive.
Which one should you use?
While acabar is the general verb for finishing a task, fenecer is a highly formal or literary term specifically used for the end of a life or a period of time, meaning 'to die' or 'to perish'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase terminar por hoy can be used to mean 'to finish for today' or 'to call it a day'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular preterite form acabó is used to indicate that he or she finished a completed action in the past. Additionally, the grammatical construction acabar de followed by an infinitive is used to express that an action has just been completed.
How do you pronounce it?
/akaˈbaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes confuse acabar with terminar. While they are largely interchangeable for 'to finish', acabar is more common in many dialects for completing a process, whereas terminar is more strictly about reaching a conclusion or boundary.
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, acabar can be used as a slang term for reaching an orgasm, making it potentially risky to use in suggestive contexts.
- While it looks like it means 'to end', the word acabar actually traces its roots back to a Vulgar Latin form related to the word for 'head', from the Proto-Indo-European root *kap-.
Examples in context
- No sé si lo acabará.I don't know if he'll finish it.This sentence shows how to use acabar to express uncertainty about someone finishing something.Tatoeba #7786249 by arh, translation #9152201 by rafaeldejesus8199
- Él acabará en seguida.He'll finish in a second.This sentence uses acabar to indicate someone will finish shortly.Tatoeba #1250889 by Shishir, translation #9730411 by DJ_Saidez
- Tardé tres horas en acabar los deberes.It took me three hours to finish my homework.This sentence uses acabar to describe the time taken to finish homework.Tatoeba #1337874 by Shishir, translation #266699 by CK
- Terminó el proyecto.He finished the project.
- La reunión está a punto de finalizar.The meeting is about to finish.
- Ellos concluyeron la negociación exitosamente.They concluded the negotiation successfully.
- Él acaba de comer.He just finished eating.
- ¿Podemos terminar el juego mañana?Can we finish the game tomorrow?
- El concierto culminó con un espectacular espectáculo de fuegos artificiales.The concert culminated with a spectacular fireworks display.
- 24 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are talking in the kitchen about dinner.
- ElenaJavier, ¿vas a acabar de preparar la cena?Javier, are you going to finish preparing dinner?
- JavierSí, solo necesito acabar de cortar la verdura.Yes, I just need to finish cutting the vegetables.
- ElenaPerfecto, yo voy a acabar de poner la mesa.Perfect, I am going to finish setting the table.
- JavierGracias, Elena, así terminamos rápido.Thanks, Elena, that way we finish quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “finish” translations and entries acabar, fenecer, finir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries acabar, fenecer, finir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
