Inklingo
Dictionary

terminan

tehr-MEE-nahnteɾˈminan

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

they finishA1Verb

completing a task or activity

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they end upB1Verb

arriving at a final state or place

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they finish, you all finish, they endAlso: 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 upAlso: 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

Indicative

Preterite

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

Present

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

Imperfect

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

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

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

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoterminara
túterminaras
él/ella/ustedterminara
nosotrostermináramos
vosotrosterminarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesterminaran
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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
llamanganan
📚 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.