acabamos
“acabamos” means “we finish” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
we finish, we finished
Also: we end, we complete
📝 In Action
Siempre acabamos el trabajo antes de la hora límite.
A1We always finish the work before the deadline.
Ayer acabamos de pintar la sala a medianoche.
A2Yesterday we finished painting the living room at midnight.
Si no acabamos ahora, tendremos que volver mañana.
A2If we don't finish now, we will have to come back tomorrow.
we have just (done something)
Also: we just (did something)
📝 In Action
¿Quieren café? No, gracias, acabamos de tomar uno.
A2Do you want coffee? No, thank you, we have just had one.
Acabamos de llegar a la estación, espérennos.
A1We have just arrived at the station, wait for us.
El informe está listo. Acabamos de enviarlo por correo.
B1The report is ready. We have just sent it by mail.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: acabamos
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence means 'We finished the meeting an hour ago'?
📚 More Resources
📚 Etymology▼
From the late Latin verb *capare*, meaning 'to take, to seize, or to finish/complete.' Over time, the prefix 'a-' was added, solidifying the meaning of 'bringing something to its end.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'acabamos' sometimes present tense and sometimes preterite tense?
In Spanish, for regular '-ar' and '-ir' verbs, the 'nosotros' (we) form is identical in the present tense (we finish) and the simple past tense (we finished). You have to listen for context or time words (like 'yesterday' or 'always') to know which meaning is intended.
Is 'acabar' always about finishing something physical?
No. While it often means finishing a task or eating, it can also refer to running out of something ('se nos acabó el dinero' - we ran out of money) or ending a relationship ('acabaron').