acabe
“acabe” means “that I finish” in Spanish (present subjunctive, first person singular).
that I finish, that he/she finish, Finish! (formal)
Also: end up
📝 In Action
Espero que acabe la reunión pronto.
A2I hope that the meeting finishes soon.
Acabe el informe antes de salir, por favor.
B1Finish the report before leaving, please. (Formal command)
No quiero que acabe la película.
B1I don't want the movie to end.
Aunque acabe cansado, lo haré.
B2Even if I end up tired, I will do it.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: acabe
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'acabe' as a formal command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Vulgar Latin *accapāre*, meaning 'to seize' or 'to take to an end,' which eventually evolved into the modern sense of 'to finish' or 'complete.'
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'acabe' ever used to mean something other than 'finish'?
Yes! When used with the preposition 'de' (acabar de), it means 'to have just finished' doing something. For example, 'Acabo de comer' means 'I just ate.' However, the form 'acabe' is rarely used in this specific 'acabar de' structure.
Why does 'acabe' sound like 'cabe' (from caber)?
They sound identical! 'Acabe' is related to finishing, while 'cabe' is the special verb form for 'caber' (to fit), usually meaning 'it fits' or 'that it fits.' You must use context to know which one is being used.