acabaron
“acabaron” means “they finished” in Spanish (completing a task).
they finished, they endedAlso: they ran out (of), you all finished (ustedes)
📝 In Action
Ellos acabaron el proyecto justo a tiempo.
A1They finished the project right on time.
Las clases acabaron hace una semana, por eso están de vacaciones.
A2Classes ended a week ago; that's why they are on vacation.
¿A qué hora acabaron ustedes la reunión de ayer?
B1What time did you all finish the meeting yesterday?
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "acabaron" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: acabaron
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'acabaron' to mean 'they had just finished'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
📚 Etymology
The verb 'acabar' comes from the Latin word *cappus*, meaning 'head' or 'end.' Over time, it combined with the Latin prefix 'ad-' (to) to form the idea of reaching the end or the head of something.
First recorded: 11th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'acabaron' and 'terminaron'?
Both mean 'they finished' or 'they ended' and are often interchangeable. 'Acabar' is sometimes considered slightly more common in daily speech, but using either one is correct.
How do I know if 'acabaron' refers to 'ellos' or 'ustedes'?
You can only tell from the context! If you are speaking formally to a group, it means 'you all finished.' If you are talking about a group you are not addressing, it means 'they finished.' If the subject is not mentioned, it's ambiguous, just like in English.