Inklingo

How to Say "to finish" in Spanish

English → Spanish

terminar

/ter-mee-NAR//teɾ.miˈnaɾ/

verbA1general
Use this general term when completing any task, activity, or event, especially in everyday conversation.
A child placing the final piece into a colorful jigsaw puzzle, completing the picture.

Examples

Tengo que terminar mi tarea.

I have to finish my homework.

¿A qué hora termina la película?

What time does the movie end?

Cuando termines de leer, apaga la luz.

When you finish reading, turn off the light.

Saying you 'finished doing' something

To say you finished an action, use the pattern 'terminar de' followed by the base form of the other verb. For example, 'Terminé de comer' means 'I finished eating'.

Forgetting 'de'

Mistake: “Voy a terminar leer el libro.”

Correction: Voy a terminar de leer el libro. When you follow 'terminar' with another action (verb), you almost always need the little word 'de' in between.

acabar

ah-kah-BAHR/a.kaˈβaɾ/

verbA1general
This verb is often used interchangeably with 'terminar' for completing tasks or projects, but can also imply reaching an end point.
A smiling bear cub completes a wooden block tower by placing the final block on top.

Examples

Necesito acabar este informe antes de las cinco.

I need to finish this report before five o'clock.

La película acaba con un final inesperado.

The movie ends with an unexpected conclusion.

¿Cuándo acabas de trabajar hoy?

When are you finishing work today?

Simple Usage

Use 'acabar' just like 'finish' in English. If you finished a task, put the task right after the verb: Acabé la cena (I finished dinner).

completar

/kom-ple-TAR//kom.pleˈtaɾ/

verbA1general
Use this when the focus is on fulfilling all the necessary parts of a project, goal, or requirement.
A cheerful cartoon character holding a marker and drawing a large green checkmark over a simple drawing of a completed task list.

Examples

Necesito completar la tarea antes de irme.

I need to complete the homework before I leave.

Ella completó el maratón en menos de cuatro horas.

She finished the marathon in less than four hours.

¿Puedes completar las instrucciones que faltan?

Can you complete the missing instructions?

A Regular Verb

Since 'completar' is a regular '-ar' verb, it follows the most common Spanish conjugation pattern, making it easy to learn.

Using 'Terminar' vs. 'Completar'

Mistake: “Using 'Terminar' when you mean 'to make whole' (e.g., 'Terminar la colección').”

Correction: 'Completar' often implies filling a gap or reaching 100%, while 'terminar' just means stopping or ending something.

cerrar

/seh-RRAHR//seˈraɾ/

verbB1general
This specifically means 'to close' and is used for businesses, shops, meetings, or deals, not for finishing general tasks.
A closed, dark storefront secured with a large, heavy brass padlock on the front doors, symbolizing a business closing down.

Examples

La tienda de la esquina tuvo que cerrar por la crisis económica.

The corner store had to close down due to the economic crisis.

Necesitamos cerrar este trato antes de que termine el mes.

We need to finish (close) this deal before the end of the month.

Use with Time Expressions

'Cerrar' is often used when a time period, like an event or a business day, comes to an end: 'Cerramos a las nueve' (We close at nine).

Terminar vs. Acabar vs. Cerrar

Learners often confuse 'terminar' and 'acabar' as they are very similar for completing tasks. The main confusion arises with 'cerrar,' which only applies to closing something like a business or a meeting, not finishing homework or a book.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.