Inklingo

How to Say "finished" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “finished” is “listo” — use 'listo' when something is ready to be used or consumed, like food or a prepared item..

listo🔊A1

Use 'listo' when something is ready to be used or consumed, like food or a prepared item.

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hecha🔊A1

Use 'hecha' (feminine form of 'hecho') to indicate that a task or job has been completed and is done.

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terminó🔊A1

Use 'terminó' (preterite of 'terminar') to describe a specific past action that was completed by a person or thing.

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terminaron🔊A1

Use 'terminaron' (plural preterite of 'terminar') when multiple people or things completed an action or activity in the past.

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acabó🔊A1

Use 'acabó' (preterite of 'acabar') to state that an event, action, or situation has come to an end.

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acabado🔊A2

Use 'acabado' (masculine form) to describe an item or task that is complete or has reached its final state.

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cerrado🔊A2

Use 'cerrado' when a place, business, or activity has been officially concluded or shut for the day/period.

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terminado🔊A2

Use 'terminado' to describe a task or object as complete, or as the past participle of 'terminar' to mean 'have finished'.

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preparados🔊A2

Use 'preparados' (plural masculine) to indicate that people are ready or have completed the necessary preparations for something.

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English → Spanish

listo

/lees-toh//ˈlisto/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'listo' when something is ready to be used or consumed, like food or a prepared item.
A cartoon illustration of a track runner crouched low at the starting block, looking focused and poised, ready to begin the race.

Examples

La cena está casi lista.

Dinner is almost ready.

¿Estás listo para salir?

Are you ready to go out?

¡He terminado! ¡Listo!

I've finished! Done!

Always Use with 'Estar'

To say that someone or something is ready, you must use the verb 'estar'. Think of 'ready' as a temporary state, and 'estar' is the verb for states and conditions. For example, 'Estoy listo' (I am ready).

Matching Gender and Number

Like most adjectives, 'listo' changes to match the person or thing it describes. Use 'lista' for feminine singular (la cena está lista), 'listos' for masculine plural (estamos listos), and 'listas' for feminine plural (las maletas están listas).

Using 'Ser' Instead of 'Estar'

Mistake: “Soy listo para el examen.”

Correction: Estoy listo para el examen. Using 'ser' changes the meaning completely to 'I am a smart person for the exam,' which doesn't make sense. For the state of being 'ready,' always use 'estar'.

hecha

AY-chah/ˈe.tʃa/

AdjectiveA1General
Use 'hecha' (feminine form of 'hecho') to indicate that a task or job has been completed and is done.
A simple drawing of a piece of paper with a list of tasks, where the final box next to the last task is filled with a large checkmark, symbolizing completion.

Examples

La tarea está hecha, por fin puedo descansar.

The homework is done; I can finally rest.

¿La comida ya está hecha? ¡Tengo mucha hambre!

Is the food ready yet? I'm very hungry!

Feminine Agreement

As the feminine singular form, 'hecha' must agree with a feminine singular noun, like 'la casa' or 'la cena'.

Ser vs. Estar

When used to mean 'finished' or 'ready', 'hecha' almost always pairs with 'estar' because it describes the temporary state or result of an action.

Using the Masculine Form

Mistake: “La mesa está hecho.”

Correction: La mesa está hecha. (Because 'mesa' is feminine, the participle must be too.)

VerbA1General
Use 'terminó' (preterite of 'terminar') to describe a specific past action that was completed by a person or thing.

Examples

Él terminó la cena a las ocho en punto.

He finished dinner exactly at eight o'clock.

terminaron

tehr-mee-NAH-rohn/teɾmiˈnaɾon/

VerbA1General
Use 'terminaron' (plural preterite of 'terminar') when multiple people or things completed an action or activity in the past.
A smiling person placing the final, oddly shaped piece into a large, colorful jigsaw puzzle, completing the picture on a wooden table.

Examples

Los estudiantes terminaron el examen en una hora.

The students finished the exam in one hour.

¿Ustedes terminaron de cenar? ¡Recojan la mesa!

Did you all finish dinner? Clear the table!

Ellas terminaron la construcción del puente la semana pasada.

They completed the construction of the bridge last week.

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).

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.

acabó

VerbA1General
Use 'acabó' (preterite of 'acabar') to state that an event, action, or situation has come to an end.

Examples

La película ya acabó.

The movie already ended.

acabado

ah-kah-BAH-doh/a.kaˈβa.ðo/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'acabado' (masculine form) to describe an item or task that is complete or has reached its final state.
A hand placing the final, perfectly fitted piece into a large, colorful, completed jigsaw puzzle on a simple table.

Examples

La tarea está acabada. ¡Por fin!

The homework is finished. Finally!

¿Ya has visto el mural acabado?

Have you already seen the completed mural?

El libro quedó acabado el martes pasado.

The book was finished last Tuesday.

Agreement is Key

Like all Spanish descriptive words, 'acabado' must match the thing it describes in both gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural). Remember to say 'acabada' for feminine nouns like 'tarea'.

Mixing Ser and Estar

Mistake: “El trabajo es acabado.”

Correction: El trabajo está acabado.

cerrado

se-RRAH-doh/θeˈraðo/ or /seˈraðo/

Past ParticipleA2General
Use 'cerrado' when a place, business, or activity has been officially concluded or shut for the day/period.
A simple wooden chest securely tied shut with a heavy knot on top, illustrating that the action of closing is complete.

Examples

Hemos cerrado el negocio por hoy.

We have closed the business for today.

Ella ya había cerrado la caja fuerte antes de que llegáramos.

She had already closed the safe before we arrived.

Forming Perfect Tenses

To talk about actions that finished in the past but relate to the present (like 'I have closed'), you use the helper verb 'haber' followed by this form ('cerrado'). Note that 'cerrado' itself never changes form here, regardless of who did the closing.

Changing the Participle Form

Mistake: “Hemos cerradas las ventanas.”

Correction: Hemos cerrado las ventanas. When used with 'haber' to form a tense, the participle ('cerrado') is 'invariable' (it always stays the same).

terminado

/ter-mee-NAH-doh//teɾ.miˈna.ðo/

Adjective/Past ParticipleA2General
Use 'terminado' to describe a task or object as complete, or as the past participle of 'terminar' to mean 'have finished'.
A small, brightly colored wooden house that is fully built and complete, with a tiny celebratory flag on the roof.

Examples

El trabajo ya está terminado.

The work is already finished.

Cuando llegué, la película ya había terminado.

When I arrived, the movie was already over.

Por fin, la casa está terminada.

Finally, the house is completed.

He terminado mis deberes.

I have finished my homework.

Making it Match

When used as a word to describe something, 'terminado' must match the thing it describes. Use 'terminada' for feminine things (la tarea terminada), 'terminados' for plural masculine things (los trabajos terminados), and 'terminadas' for plural feminine things (las clases terminadas).

Use 'Estar', not 'Ser'

To say something is finished, you'll almost always use the verb 'estar'. Think of 'finished' as a state or condition. For example, 'El informe está terminado' (The report is finished).

The 'Have Done' Form

'Terminado' teams up with the verb 'haber' (he, has, ha, etc.) to talk about things that have happened. This is your go-to for talking about completed past actions, just like 'I have finished' in English.

Always Stays the Same

When you use 'terminado' with 'haber', it never changes its ending. It's always 'terminado', even if you're talking about a feminine or plural thing. For example, 'He terminado la tarea' and 'He terminado los proyectos'.

Describing a State of Being

Just like when it means 'finished', this meaning uses the verb 'estar' because being exhausted is a temporary state. 'Estoy terminado' (I'm exhausted).

Forgetting to Change the Ending

Mistake: “La tarea está terminado.”

Correction: La tarea está terminada. Because 'tarea' is a feminine word, the describing word 'terminado' needs to change to 'terminada' to match.

Changing the Ending with 'Haber'

Mistake: “Ella ha terminada la carta.”

Correction: Ella ha terminado la carta. When it follows a form of 'haber' (like 'ha'), the past participle always stays in the masculine singular form ('-o').

preparados

preh-pah-RAH-dohs/pɾepaˈɾaðos/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'preparados' (plural masculine) to indicate that people are ready or have completed the necessary preparations for something.
Two cartoon runners in brightly colored uniforms crouched low at a simple starting line, focused intently, signifying they are ready to begin.

Examples

Los estudiantes están preparados para el examen final.

The students are ready for the final exam.

Todos los documentos están preparados, podemos empezar.

All the documents are prepared, we can start.

Son unos profesionales muy preparados y eficientes.

They are very skilled and efficient professionals.

Adjective Agreement

Since 'preparados' ends in '-os', it must describe a group of masculine people or things (plural). If you are talking about one girl, you would use 'preparada'.

Using Ser vs. Estar

Mistake: “Somos preparados.”

Correction: Estamos preparados. Use 'estar' (to be) because being 'prepared' is usually a temporary state, not an inherent quality.

terminado

AdjectiveB2Informal
Use 'terminado' figuratively to express extreme exhaustion or being completely worn out.

Examples

Después de trabajar 12 horas, estoy terminado.

After working 12 hours, I'm exhausted.

Verb vs. Adjective Confusion

Learners often confuse when to use a verb form (like 'acabó', 'terminó') versus an adjective form (like 'acabado', 'terminado', 'listo'). Verbs describe the action of finishing, while adjectives describe the state of being finished or ready. Pay attention to whether you need to state an action was completed or describe the resulting state.

Related Translations

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