fines
“fines” means “purposes” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
purposes, aims
Also: ends
📝 In Action
Los fines de la organización son promover la educación.
B2The purposes of the organization are to promote education.
Debemos recordar los fines éticos de la ciencia.
C1We must remember the ethical aims of science.
Todo lo que hacemos tiene fines comerciales.
B2Everything we do has commercial ends (or purposes).
ends
Also: weekends
📝 In Action
Los fines de semana me gusta dormir hasta tarde.
A1On weekends, I like to sleep in late.
Viajaremos a fines de este mes.
A2We will travel toward the end of this month.
A fines de la década, todo cambió.
B1Toward the end of the decade, everything changed.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: fines
Question 1 of 2
¿Cuál es el mejor uso de 'fines' en esta frase: 'La nueva ley tiene _____ proteger al consumidor.'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word 'fin' comes directly from the Latin word *fīnis*, meaning 'end, boundary, limit, or aim.' The plural 'fines' inherits both the physical sense of 'ends' (like the end of a week) and the abstract sense of 'aims' or 'purposes.'
First recorded: Before the 10th century (as 'fin')
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'fin' and 'fines'?
'Fin' (singular) usually means a single, literal 'end' (like the end of a movie). 'Fines' (plural) is used for two main things: 1) The abstract meaning of 'purposes' or 'goals' (Los fines de la ciencia). 2) The plural time expression 'los fines de semana' (weekends).
How do I say 'weekend' in Spanish?
Use the singular phrase 'el fin de semana' (the weekend). If you are talking about weekends in general or recurring actions, use the plural 'los fines de semana'.