finir
/fi.niʁ/
The English phrase "to finish" is translated into French as finir.
finir is used to describe bringing a task or an activity to an end. You may also use the constructions finir de or terminer de to indicate the completion of a specific action.
How does it change in a sentence?
finir is a second-group verb (ending in -ir), which means it follows a regular conjugation pattern for this class of verbs. For example, the first-person plural present indicative form is finissons (we finish / we are finishing). Additionally, the past participle fini can be used to describe something that is completed, as in C'est fini (It is finished).
How do you pronounce it?
/fi.niʁ/
Did you know?
- While finir means 'to finish', the expression en finir is often a euphemism for committing suicide or ending one's life.
- In French, if you say you are fini, it does not just mean you have completed a task, but can also imply that you are 'done for' or 'ruined' in a social or professional sense.
- The word finir comes from the Latin fīnīre, which originally meant to set a limit or a boundary.
Examples in context
- On va finir ça.We're going to finish this.This sentence shows how to use finir to talk about finishing a task.Tatoeba #7063816 by Aiji, translation #3310774 by CK
- On doit finir ça.We have to finish this.This sentence shows the necessity of using finir to complete a task.Tatoeba #8328938 by Aiji, translation #3178472 by CK
- J'ai un livre à finir.I have a book to finish.This sentence uses finir to describe a task that needs to be completed.Tatoeba #7763304 by Aiji, translation #2358663 by CK
- J'ai terminé mon travail.I finished my work.
- Elle termine son discours.She is finishing her speech.
- On finit le film ce soir.We are finishing the movie tonight.
- C'est fini!It's finished!
- J'ai terminé de lire ce livre.I finished reading this book.
- On a fini de manger.We finished eating.
- 99 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are in a cafe working on their laptops.
- ChloéTu vas finir ton rapport bientôt ?Are you going to finish your report soon?
- NathanOui, je veux finir avant ce soir.Yes, I want to finish before tonight.
- ChloéD'accord, je vais finir le mien aussi.Okay, I am going to finish mine too.
- NathanBon courage à nous deux !Good luck to both of us!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry finir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries finir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
