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terminan

tehr-MEE-nahnteɾˈminan

“terminan” means “they finish” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

they finish, you all finish, they end

Also: they conclude
VerbA1regular ar
Two figures smiling as they place the last piece into a large, colorful jigsaw puzzle, indicating completion.
infinitiveterminar
gerundterminando
past Participleterminado

📝 In Action

Los estudiantes terminan el examen a las diez.

A1

The students finish the exam at ten o'clock.

Ellas siempre terminan su trabajo antes de la cena.

A2

They (f.) always finish their work before dinner.

Ustedes terminan la fase uno, ¿verdad?

A2

You all are finishing phase one, right?

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • terminan las clases – classes end
  • terminan la reunión – they end the meeting

they end up, you all end up

Also: they result in
VerbB1regular ar
Two small cartoon figures standing happily on a hilltop, having reached a cozy house at the end of a long, winding path.
infinitiveterminar
gerundterminando
past Participleterminado

📝 In Action

Si no hacen caso, terminan en problemas.

B1

If they don't listen, they end up in trouble.

Después de tanta discusión, siempre terminan pidiéndose disculpas.

B2

After so much arguing, they always end up apologizing to each other.

Los caminos terminan todos en el mismo pueblo.

B1

The roads all end up in the same village.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • paran (they stop/end up)
  • dan como resultado (they result in)

Common Collocations

  • terminan en la cárcel – they end up in jail
  • terminan agotados – they end up exhausted

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

preterite

él/ella/ustedterminó
ellos/ellas/ustedesterminaron
vosotrosterminasteis
nosotrosterminamos
yoterminé
túterminaste

present

él/ella/ustedtermina
ellos/ellas/ustedesterminan
vosotrostermináis
nosotrosterminamos
yotermino
túterminas

imperfect

él/ella/ustedterminaba
ellos/ellas/ustedesterminaban
vosotrosterminabais
nosotrosterminábamos
yoterminaba
túterminabas

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedtermine
ellos/ellas/ustedesterminen
vosotrosterminéis
nosotrosterminemos
yotermine
tútermines

imperfect

él/ella/ustedterminara
ellos/ellas/ustedesterminaran
vosotrosterminarais
nosotrostermináramos
yoterminara
túterminaras
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "terminan" in Spanish:

they conclude→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: terminan

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'terminan' to mean 'they end up' (Definition 2)?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
terminar(to finish) — Verb
el término(the term/end) — Noun
la terminación(the ending/completion) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The verb 'terminar' comes directly from the Latin word *termināre*, meaning 'to limit' or 'to finish.' It shares a root with the English word 'terminal' (the end point).

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: terminamItalian: terminano

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'terminan' used for people or things?

'Terminan' can be used for both! You can say 'Los niños terminan la tarea' (The kids finish the homework) or 'Las vacaciones terminan pronto' (The vacations end soon).

If I am talking to a group of friends in Spain, should I use 'terminan'?

No. In Spain, if you are talking informally to a group of friends ('vosotros'), you would use 'termináis'. 'Terminan' is reserved for formal groups ('ustedes') in Spain, or for any group in Latin America.