acaban
“acaban” means “they finish” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they finish, you finish, they end
Also: they run out of, they conclude
📝 In Action
Ellos acaban su trabajo a las cinco.
A1They finish their work at five o'clock.
¿Cuándo acaban ustedes el proyecto?
A2When are you all finishing the project?
Las clases acaban mañana por la tarde.
A2Classes end tomorrow afternoon.
they have just finished, you have just finished
📝 In Action
Ellos acaban de llegar a la fiesta.
A2They have just arrived at the party.
Ustedes acaban de comer, ¿verdad?
A2You all have just eaten, right?
Las noticias acaban de anunciar la tormenta.
B1The news has just announced the storm.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: acaban
Question 1 of 2
Which English sentence correctly uses 'acaban' in the sense of 'to have just done something'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the vulgar Latin phrase *ad caput*, meaning 'to the head' or 'to the end.' It captures the idea of bringing something to its conclusion or final point.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'acaban' used for people or things?
'Acaban' can be used for both! It is the 'they' form, so it applies to any plural subject. For example, 'Ellos acaban la tarea' (They finish the homework) or 'Los recursos se acaban' (The resources run out).
How do I know if 'acaban' means 'finish' or 'have just finished'?
If 'acaban' is immediately followed by the word 'de' and then another verb (like 'acaban de comer'), it means 'have just finished.' If 'acaban' is followed by the thing being finished (like 'acaban la cena'), it means 'finish' or 'complete.'