Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Done in Spanish
Hecho · adjective · EH-choh
The Spanish word for done can be 'hecho' (the past participle of 'hacer,' to do/make), 'listo' (ready/finished), or 'terminado' (completed). The best choice depends on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey.
Pronounce 'hecho' as EH-choh, with two syllables and the stress on the first. The 'h' is silent, and 'ch' makes a sound like the English 'ch' in 'church.'
Ya está hecho, podemos irnos.
It's done, we can leave.
done in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for done, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| hecho | done | EH-choh | Default, widely understood |
| listo | done | meaning finished or ready | |
| terminado | done | completed |
How Native Speakers Use Hecho
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Task completion
El informe ya está terminado.
The report is already done.
Confirming a work task is complete.
Cooking
El pollo está hecho, puedes servirlo.
The chicken is done, you can serve it.
Announcing food is cooked and ready.
Being ready
¿Ya estás listo? Tenemos que salir.
Are you done? We need to leave.
Asking if someone has finished getting ready.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Hecho
Confusing hecho with echo
Incorrect: La tarea está echo.
Correct: La tarea está hecha.
'Echo' (without h) is the first person of 'echar' (to throw). 'Hecho' (with h) is the past participle of 'hacer.' Also, 'tarea' is feminine, so use 'hecha.'
Using only one translation
Incorrect: ¿Estás hecho? (asking if someone is ready)
Correct: ¿Estás listo?
When asking if someone is ready or finished preparing, 'listo' is more natural than 'hecho,' which is better for tasks and objects.
Lock in done Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Hecho used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using hecho in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Ya está hecho, podemos irnos. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.
Common Questions About done in Spanish
- When do you use hecho versus terminado versus listo?
- Use 'hecho' for something that has been made or completed as a result of doing, 'terminado' to emphasize that something has reached its end, and 'listo' when something or someone is ready or prepared.
- How do you say well done in Spanish?
- For praising someone, say '¡bien hecho!' and for steak doneness, 'bien cocido' or 'bien hecho' also works, depending on the region.
- Is hecho masculine or feminine?
- The word 'hecho' changes to 'hecha' for feminine nouns — for example, 'la comida está hecha' (the food is done) uses the feminine form to agree with 'comida.'