acabar
/ah-kah-BAHR/
to finish
Acabar means 'to finish,' like completing a task or project.
acabar(verb)
to finish
?completing a task or object
,to end
?bringing something to a conclusion
to conclude
?formal completion
,to complete
?a project or homework
📝 In Action
Necesito acabar este informe antes de las cinco.
A1I need to finish this report before five o'clock.
La película acaba con un final inesperado.
A2The movie ends with an unexpected conclusion.
¿Cuándo acabas de trabajar hoy?
A1When are you finishing work today?
💡 Grammar Points
Simple Usage
Use 'acabar' just like 'finish' in English. If you finished a task, put the task right after the verb: Acabé la cena (I finished dinner).
Acabar can mean 'to run out,' when supplies or resources are fully depleted.
acabar(verb)
to run out
?of supplies or resources
,to be finished/used up
?when something is gone
to die
?euphemistic/poetic use
📝 In Action
Se me acabó la leche. ¿Puedes comprar más?
A2I ran out of milk. Can you buy more?
Cuando las vacaciones se acaben, tengo que volver al trabajo.
B1When the holidays are over, I have to return to work.
Si no bebes agua pronto, la batería del coche se acabará.
B1If you don't drink water soon, the car's battery will run out (of charge).
💡 Grammar Points
The Power of 'Se'
When something runs out or finishes on its own, you MUST use 'se' and conjugate the verb to match the thing that is gone (not the person). Example: El dinero se acabó (The money ran out).
Accidental Usage (A2/B1)
To say 'I ran out of X,' Spanish often uses the structure 'Se me acabó X,' where the running out happens 'to me,' but the thing ('X') is still the subject.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting 'Se'
Mistake: "La gasolina acabó."
Correction: La gasolina se acabó. (You must use 'se' when the item finishes on its own.)
Acabar means 'to end up,' describing the eventual outcome or result of a situation.
acabar(verb)
to end up
?describing an eventual outcome or result
to have just done something
?Acabar de + infinitive
,to finally do something
?Acabar por + infinitive
📝 In Action
Después de muchos intentos, acabaron comprando el coche rojo.
B1After many attempts, they ended up buying the red car.
Acabo de llegar a la oficina, hace solo un minuto.
B1I have just arrived at the office, just a minute ago.
Si sigues mintiendo, vas a acabar metiéndote en problemas.
B2If you keep lying, you are going to end up getting yourself into trouble.
💡 Grammar Points
Just Finished (Acabar de)
'Acabar de' followed by an action word (infinitive) is the standard way to say that an action happened very recently. It’s like saying 'I have just eaten.' (Acabo de comer).
Final Outcome (Acabar + Gerund)
Use 'acabar' followed by the -ando/-iendo form of a verb to describe the state or action someone finally reached after a process: Acabó bailando (She ended up dancing).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'acabar de' for future
Mistake: "Acabo de ir mañana."
Correction: 'Acabar de' only talks about the immediate past. Use 'Voy a ir' (I am going to go) for the future.
⭐ Usage Tips
Easy Replacement
If you find yourself saying 'I just...' in English, you almost always need 'Acabar de' in Spanish.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: acabar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'acabar' to mean that a resource is completely gone?
📚 More Resources
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).