se acabó el tiempo
/se akabo el tjempo/from spelling rules
The English phrase "times up" can be translated into Spanish as se acabó el tiempo.
The phrase se acabó el tiempo is commonly used in competitive settings, such as sports, exams or games, to signal the end of a timed period.
Which one should you use?
While se acabó el tiempo is the standard phrase, se terminó el tiempo is a common synonym that can be used interchangeably. For a more formal tone, you may use El tiempo ha terminado. If you wish to convey that it is specifically time to conclude a process, you can use Ha llegado el momento de concluir.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can use the phrase El tiempo se ha agotado to convey that time is up.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase se acabó el tiempo, the verb acabar is used in the reflexive form acabarse to indicate that a resource or period has been exhausted or completed.
Did you know?
- The word tiempo is actually a linguistic relative of the English word 'temperature'. Both words share a common ancestor that relates to the idea of 'stretching' or 'extending' a certain state.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the shorter phrase se acabó is used alone to shut down an argument or demand that a specific behavior stop immediately.
- The word tiempo is a doublet of the word tempo. While tempo is used specifically for the speed of music, tiempo refers to time in a general sense.
Examples in context
- Señoras y señores, el tiempo ha terminado. Por favor, procedamos a la discusión de los resultados.Ladies and gentlemen, time is up. Please, let us proceed to the discussion of the results.
- ¡Se acabó el tiempo! No olvides terminar tu tarea antes de que sea demasiado tarde.Time's up! Don't forget to finish your homework before it's too late.
- ¡Se acabó el tiempo para el examen!Time is up for the exam!
- Se acabó el tiempo de la clase.Class time is up.
- Se acabó el tiempo de juego.Playtime is over.
Example conversation
A teacher announcing the end of a quiz to her students.
- Sofía¡Atención todos, se acabó el tiempo!Attention everyone, time is up!
- MateoSofía, ¿podemos terminar de escribir?Sofía, can we finish writing?
- SofíaNo, Mateo, debes entregar el papel ahora.No, Mateo, you must hand in the paper now.
- MateoEstá bien, lo entrego.Okay, I'll hand it in.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries el, se, tiempo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
