Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Finish in Spanish: Terminar
Terminar · verb · tehr-mee-NAHR
Finish in Spanish is terminar or acabar, both regular verbs used interchangeably in most contexts. Finalizar is reserved for more formal situations.
Terminar is pronounced tehr-mee-NAHR, with stress on the final syllable.
Necesito terminar este informe antes de las cinco.
I need to finish this report before five.
Finish in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for finish, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| terminar | finish | tehr-mee-NAHR | Default, widely understood |
| acabar | finish | equally common synonym | |
| finalizar | finish | formal contexts |
How Native Speakers Use Terminar
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Completing a task
Ya terminé la tarea — ahora puedo descansar.
I already finished the homework — now I can rest.
Completion of schoolwork.
Ending a relationship
Acabamos hace dos meses y ahora somos amigos.
We finished (broke up) two months ago and now we're friends.
Acabar used for ending relationships.
Event conclusion
La conferencia finaliza a las seis de la tarde.
The conference finishes at six in the evening.
Formal event scheduling.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Terminar
Using acabar de incorrectly
Incorrect: Acabé de comer hace una hora.
Correct: Acabé de comer. / Terminé de comer hace una hora.
Acabar de + infinitive means to have just done something (present), not finished doing in the past.
Confusing terminar with terminal
Incorrect: Estamos en la terminar del aeropuerto.
Correct: Estamos en la terminal del aeropuerto.
Terminar is the verb (to finish), while terminal is the noun (airport terminal).
Lock in Finish 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 Terminar used by native speakers
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Common Questions About Finish in Spanish
- How do you say finish in Spanish?
- The most common translations are terminar and acabar, both regular verbs that work in nearly all contexts where English uses finish or end.
- What does acabar de mean?
- Acabar de followed by an infinitive is a special construction meaning to have just done something — acabo de llegar means I just arrived, not I finished arriving.
- What is the difference between terminar, acabar, and finalizar?
- Terminar and acabar are everyday synonyms for finishing, while finalizar carries a more formal register and is preferred in official, academic, or business writing.