terminaron
/tehr-mee-NAH-rohn/
finished
After hours of work, they finished the puzzle! (terminaron)
terminaron(Verb)
finished
?Completed a task or activity
,completed
?Brought something to a successful conclusion
got done
?Informal completion
📝 In Action
Los estudiantes terminaron el examen en una hora.
A1The students finished the exam in one hour.
¿Ustedes terminaron de cenar? ¡Recojan la mesa!
A2Did you all finish dinner? Clear the table!
Ellas terminaron la construcción del puente la semana pasada.
B1They completed the construction of the bridge last week.
💡 Grammar Points
Simple Past Tense (Preterite)
'Terminaron' tells us that the action of finishing or ending happened at a specific moment in the past and is completely over.
Who is 'terminaron'?
This form refers to a group: 'ellos' (they, masculine or mixed group), 'ellas' (they, feminine group), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal or informal in most of Latin America).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Simple Past and Continuous Past
Mistake: "Usar 'estaban terminando' when the action was fully completed."
Correction: Use 'terminaron' for a single, finished action, and 'estaban terminando' only if the action was interrupted or ongoing in the past.
⭐ Usage Tips
The 'de' Rule
When you say they finished doing something, use 'de' before the next verb: 'Terminaron de trabajar' (They finished working).
They broke up and are moving on. (terminaron)
terminaron(Verb)
broke up
?Ended a romantic relationship
,concluded
?An event or period came to an end
split up
?Informal way to say they broke up
📝 In Action
Mis vecinos terminaron después de cinco años de noviazgo.
A2My neighbors broke up after five years of dating.
Las negociaciones terminaron sin un acuerdo final.
B1The negotiations concluded without a final agreement.
Los Juegos Olímpicos terminaron con una gran ceremonia.
A2The Olympic Games ended with a great ceremony.
💡 Grammar Points
Intransitive Use
In this context, 'terminaron' means the event or relationship itself stopped. It doesn't need a direct object (you don't finish something).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'final' instead of 'terminaron'
Mistake: "Decir 'Ellos hicieron el final' para 'They broke up.'"
Correction: The verb form 'terminaron' is necessary. 'Ellos terminaron' is the natural way to say 'They broke up.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Relationship Status
When talking about relationships, 'terminaron' is the single most common and natural way to say a couple split.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: terminaron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'terminaron' to mean 'broke up'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'terminaron' used for 'they' or 'you all'?
'Terminaron' is the past tense form used for both 'ellos' (they) and 'ustedes' (you all, the formal or Latin American plural form of 'you'). The context tells you which one is meant.
How is 'terminaron' different from 'acabaron'?
They are very similar synonyms and often interchangeable when talking about finishing a task. 'Terminaron' might feel slightly more formal, but both are used constantly in everyday speech.