terminar
“terminar” means “to finish” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to finish, to end
Also: to complete
📝 In Action
Tengo que terminar mi tarea.
A1I have to finish my homework.
¿A qué hora termina la película?
A1What time does the movie end?
Cuando termines de leer, apaga la luz.
A2When you finish reading, turn off the light.
El concierto terminó con fuegos artificiales.
B1The concert ended with fireworks.
to break up with
Also: to end things with
📝 In Action
Laura terminó con su novio la semana pasada.
A2Laura broke up with her boyfriend last week.
No quiero terminar contigo, te amo.
B1I don't want to break up with you, I love you.
Dicen que van a terminar porque discuten mucho.
B1They say they are going to break up because they argue a lot.
to end up
Also: to wind up
📝 In Action
Después de perdernos, terminamos en un pueblo pequeño.
B1After getting lost, we ended up in a small town.
Si sigues gastando así, terminarás sin dinero.
B2If you keep spending like that, you'll end up with no money.
Empezó como asistente, pero terminó siendo el director de la empresa.
B2He started as an assistant, but he ended up being the company director.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "terminar" in Spanish:
i complete→they end→they finish→to complete→to end→to finish→we complete→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: terminar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'She broke up with him'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'termināre', which means 'to set boundaries' or 'to end'. It's related to 'terminus', the Latin word for a boundary stone or limit. So, when you 'terminar' something, you are putting a final boundary on it.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'terminar' and 'acabar'?
They are very similar and often you can use either one. 'Terminar' is a general word for finishing or completing something. 'Acabar' can sometimes feel more immediate, like something *just* happened ('Acabo de llegar' - 'I just arrived'). But when talking about finishing a task like homework, both 'Terminé la tarea' and 'Acabé la tarea' are perfect.
How do I say 'I finished reading the book'?
The most natural way is to use the pattern 'terminar de' + base verb. So you would say, 'Terminé de leer el libro'. You could also just say 'Terminé el libro', which is also correct and understood.