Inklingo
← Dictionary

acabar

ah-kah-BAHR/a.kaˈβaɾ/

to finish, to end

Also: to conclude, to complete
VerbA1regular ar
A smiling bear cub completes a wooden block tower by placing the final block on top.
infinitiveacabar
gerundacabando
past Participleacabado

📝 In Action

Necesito acabar este informe antes de las cinco.

A1

I need to finish this report before five o'clock.

La película acaba con un final inesperado.

A2

The movie ends with an unexpected conclusion.

¿Cuándo acabas de trabajar hoy?

A1

When are you finishing work today?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • terminar (to finish)
  • finalizar (to conclude)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • acabar un proyecto – to finish a project
  • acabar la carrera – to finish university/the race

to run out, to be finished/used up

Also: to die
VerbA2regular ar
A clear glass jar is lying empty on a table, symbolizing that supplies have run out.
infinitiveacabarse (reflexive form)
gerundacabándose
past Participleacabado

📝 In Action

Se me acabó la leche. ¿Puedes comprar más?

A2

I ran out of milk. Can you buy more?

Cuando las vacaciones se acaben, tengo que volver al trabajo.

B1

When the holidays are over, I have to return to work.

Si no bebes agua pronto, la batería del coche se acabará.

B1

If you don't drink water soon, the car's battery will run out (of charge).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • agotarse (to be exhausted/run out)
  • extinguirse (to become extinct)

to end up

Also: to have just done something, to finally do something
VerbB1regular ar
A small green frog rests peacefully on a lily pad, illustrating the final result of a journey down a winding stream.
infinitiveacabar
gerundacabando
past Participleacabado

📝 In Action

Después de muchos intentos, acabaron comprando el coche rojo.

B1

After many attempts, they ended up buying the red car.

Acabo de llegar a la oficina, hace solo un minuto.

B1

I have just arrived at the office, just a minute ago.

Si sigues mintiendo, vas a acabar metiéndote en problemas.

B2

If you keep lying, you are going to end up getting yourself into trouble.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • acabar de + infinitivo – to have just done something
  • acabar + gerundio – to end up doing something

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedacaba
yoacabo
túacabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesacaban
nosotrosacabamos
vosotrosacabáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedacababa
yoacababa
túacababas
ellos/ellas/ustedesacababan
nosotrosacabábamos
vosotrosacababais

preterite

él/ella/ustedacabó
yoacabé
túacabaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesacabaron
nosotrosacabamos
vosotrosacabasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedacabe
yoacabe
túacabes
ellos/ellas/ustedesacaben
nosotrosacabemos
vosotrosacabéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedacabara
yoacabara
túacabaras
ellos/ellas/ustedesacabaran
nosotrosacabáramos
vosotrosacabarais
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: acabar

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'acabar' to mean that a resource is completely gone?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
el acabado(the finish (noun), the completion) — Noun
acabado/a(finished, exhausted) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Vulgar Latin *accapāre*, which means 'to reach the head' or 'to bring to the head/end.' This reflects the idea of reaching the final point of something.

First recorded: 12th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: acabarFrench: achever

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'acabar' and 'terminar'?

They are nearly identical! Both mean 'to finish' or 'to end.' 'Acabar' is slightly more common in everyday conversation, while 'terminar' can sometimes feel a bit more formal, but you can usually use them interchangeably.

Why does 'acabar' sometimes have 'se' and sometimes not?

When you are the one doing the finishing, you don't use 'se' (Acabé mi trabajo = I finished my work). When the thing itself runs out, breaks down, or reaches its natural end, you must use 'se' (Se acabó el tiempo = Time ran out).