How to Say "finish line" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “finish line” is “meta” — use 'meta' when referring to the finish line as the general endpoint or objective of a race or competition.
English → Spanish
meta
MEH-tahˈme.ta
nounA2general
Use 'meta' when referring to the finish line as the general endpoint or objective of a race or competition.
Examples
El ciclista aceleró al ver la meta.
The cyclist sped up upon seeing the finish line.
Cruzaron la meta casi al mismo tiempo.
They crossed the finish line almost at the same time.
llegada
ye-GAH-dahʎeˈɣaða
nounB1general
Use 'llegada' to emphasize the moment of crossing the finish line or the act of arriving at the end of a race.
Examples
El ciclista cruzó la línea de llegada con una ventaja de diez segundos.
The cyclist crossed the finish line with a ten-second lead.
Hubo un empate técnico en la llegada de la maratón.
There was a technical tie at the finish of the marathon.
Using the definite article
When talking about the finish line in general, use the definite article: 'la llegada'.
Meta vs. Llegada
Learners often confuse 'meta' and 'llegada' because both mean 'finish line'. Remember that 'meta' is the simpler, more general term for the endpoint itself, while 'llegada' highlights the action of reaching it.
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