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acabas

ah-CAH-bahs/aˈkaβas/

you finish, you end

Also: you use up
VerbA1regular ar
A colorful illustration of a child smiling as they place the last piece into a completed jigsaw puzzle.
infinitiveacabar
gerundacabando
past Participleacabado

📝 In Action

¿A qué hora acabas tu clase de español hoy?

A1

What time do you finish your Spanish class today?

Si acabas con todo el pan, tenemos que ir a comprar más.

A2

If you finish all the bread, we have to go buy more.

Siempre acabas lo que empiezas, lo cual es admirable.

B1

You always finish what you start, which is admirable.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • acabar la carrera – to finish the race/degree
  • acabar el proyecto – to finish the project

Idioms & Expressions

  • acabar en nada – to come to nothing; to be pointless

you have just (done something)

VerbA2periphrasis component ar
A storybook illustration of a person holding a dripping watering can next to a garden bed that has just been watered.
infinitiveacabar de + [infinitive]
gerundacabando de...
past Participleacabado de...

📝 In Action

¿Acabas de despertarte? ¡Son las diez!

A2

Have you just woken up? It's ten o'clock!

No puedes comer el pastel, acabas de cenar.

A2

You can't eat the cake, you have just had dinner.

Llegamos tarde, porque acabas de perder el autobús.

B1

We're late because you just missed the bus.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • recién (recently)

Common Collocations

  • acabar de hablar – to have just spoken
  • acabar de llegar – to have just arrived

🔄 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 →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "acabas" in Spanish:

you end→you finish→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: acabas

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'acabas' to express that an action happened moments ago?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The verb 'acabar' comes from the Latin phrase *ad caput* (to the head/to the end). Over time, this phrase evolved into the Spanish verb that means 'to reach the end' or 'to finish'.

First recorded: Mid-13th century (Old Spanish)

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: acabarCatalan: acabar

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'acabas' and 'terminas'?

Both mean 'you finish' and are often interchangeable. 'Terminas' (from 'terminar') might be slightly more formal in some regions, but for everyday use, you can use 'acabas' without worry.

How do I say 'I just finished' using this verb?

You would use the 'yo' form of the verb: 'Yo acabo de terminar' (I just finished).