Terminar: to finish, to end
Pronunciation: tehr-mee-NAHR (stress the capital letters)
Terminar means “to finish, to end” in English.
Quick answer
- Meaning: to finish, to end
- How to say it: tehr-mee-NAHR
- Present: yo termino, tú terminas
- Level: Elementary (A2)
What “terminar” means and how to use it
Terminar means “to finish” or “to end.” It works for tasks, events, and relationships.
How to conjugate “terminar”
| Who | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| yo | termino | I |
| tú | terminas | you (informal) |
| él, ella, usted | termina | he, she, you (formal) |
| nosotros | terminamos | we |
| ellos, ustedes | terminan | they, you all |
| Past (preterite) | yo terminé, él terminó | I / he or she |
| Past participle | terminado | used with haber |
Examples with audio
- Termino de trabajar a las seis.I finish work at six.
- La película termina muy tarde.The movie ends very late.
- ¿Ya terminaste la tarea?Did you already finish the homework?
Usage tip
Say “terminar de” plus an infinitive for “to finish doing”: terminé de comer. Without “de” it means to end something in general.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “to finish, to end” in Spanish?
“to finish, to end” in Spanish is “terminar.” It is pronounced tehr-mee-NAHR, with the stress on the syllable in capital letters.
How do you pronounce “terminar”?
Say tehr-mee-NAHR. The syllable in capital letters gets the stress. Press the speaker button at the top of this page to hear it.
What is the past tense of “terminar”?
In the preterite, “yo” is “terminé” and “él” is “terminó.” The past participle is “terminado.”
Practice “terminar” for free
Reading helps, but practice makes it stick. Try short exercises with instant feedback.