Inklingo

How to Say "unfinished" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “unfinished” is “incompleto” — use 'incompleto' when referring to a physical object or a set of things that is missing parts or elements and is therefore not whole.

English → Spanish

incompleto

een-kohm-pleh-tohiŋkomˈpleto

adjectiveA2general
Use 'incompleto' when referring to a physical object or a set of things that is missing parts or elements and is therefore not whole.
A colorful jigsaw puzzle of a landscape with one piece missing in the center.

Examples

El informe está incompleto, faltan los anexos.

The report is incomplete; the annexes are missing.

El rompecabezas está incompleto porque le falta una pieza.

The puzzle is incomplete because it's missing a piece.

Entregué un informe incompleto por falta de tiempo.

I submitted an unfinished report due to a lack of time.

Sus datos están incompletos; necesitamos su dirección actual.

Your data is incomplete; we need your current address.

Matching the Noun

This word changes its ending to match the thing it describes. Use 'incompleto' for masculine nouns like 'el libro' and 'incompleta' for feminine nouns like 'la tarea'.

Using with 'Estar'

Usually, we use this word with the verb 'estar' (to be) because being unfinished is often seen as a temporary state rather than a permanent characteristic.

Forgetting the Gender Change

Mistake: “La lista está incompleto.”

Correction: Say 'La lista está incompleta' because 'lista' is feminine (ends in 'a').

Word Order

Mistake: “Un incompleto álbum.”

Correction: In Spanish, the describing word (adjective) usually comes after the thing it describes. Say 'Un álbum incompleto'.

pendiente

pen-DYEN-tehpenˈdjen.te

adjectiveA2general
Use 'pendiente' when talking about a task, obligation, or project that has not yet been completed or addressed.
A small, tightly sealed wooden box resting on a clean, empty surface, tied with a simple red ribbon, symbolizing a task waiting to be dealt with.

Examples

Todavía tengo varias llamadas pendientes del día de ayer.

I still have several pending calls from yesterday.

Tengo muchos correos pendientes que responder.

I have many pending emails to answer.

Esa deuda sigue pendiente después de un mes.

That debt is still outstanding after a month.

Dejamos la conversación pendiente para mañana.

We left the conversation unfinished for tomorrow.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'pendiente' adjusts its ending to match the noun it describes (e.g., 'tareas pendientes', 'trabajo pendiente').

Using 'Estar' vs. 'Ser'

Mistake: “Misusing 'ser' instead of 'estar' (e.g., 'La tarea es pendiente').”

Correction: Use 'estar' to describe the temporary state of being unfinished: 'La tarea está pendiente'.

Incompleto vs. Pendiente

Learners often confuse these by using 'incompleto' for tasks. Remember, 'incompleto' describes something physically missing pieces, while 'pendiente' refers to an action or task that needs doing.

Related Translations

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