To finish something or bring it to an end
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
Acabar means to finish and is literally "to bring something to its end."
acabar
to finish, to end
When something reaches its end, whether you bring it there or it gets there on its own.
Acabé el informe anocheI finished the report last night
La clase acaba a las tresThe class ends at three
to end up (doing something)
When you end up somewhere or doing something. It names where things landed in the end, often not where you planned.
Acabamos cenando en casa de mi hermanaWe ended up having dinner at my sister's house
Si sigues así, vas a acabar en el hospitalIf you keep this up, you're going to end up in the hospital
to finish, to climax (sexual, regional)
When someone reaches orgasm, they "finish."
Él acabó demasiado rápidoHe finished too quickly
¿Ya acabaste?Did you climax already?
acabar de
to finish (doing something)
When you finish doing an activity. De means from, so you finish and step away from the activity that follows.
Avísame cuando acabes de comerLet me know when you finish eating
Ya acabé de lavar los platosI already finished washing the dishes
to have just (recent past)
When something has just happened, it just finished.
Acabo de llegar a casaI have just gotten home
Acababan de salir cuando empezó a lloverThey had just left when it started to rain
not quite, not fully (in the negative)
When something doesn't quite get there. It literally doesn't finish doing something, so it only gets partway, like an idea that doesn't finish convincing you.
No acabo de entender el problemaI don't quite understand the problem
El plan no me acaba de convencerThe plan doesn't fully convince me
acabar con
to put an end to
When you put an end to a problem or situation so it doesn't continue.
Tenemos que acabar con este ruidoWe have to put an end to this noise
La nueva ley quiere acabar con la pobrezaThe new law aims to put an end to poverty
to destroy, to wear out (someone or something)
When something ruins or exhausts someone or something. It brings them to their end, finishing them off.
La sequía acabó con la cosechaThe drought destroyed the harvest
Este trabajo va a acabar conmigoThis job is going to wear me out
acabarse
to run out
When you run out of something. The supply literally finishes itself off, so nothing is left.
Se acabó el café, hay que comprar másThe coffee ran out, we need to buy more
Se nos acabó la pacienciaWe ran out of patience
to be over, to end
When something is over and done. It has reached its end on its own.
Cuando se acabe la película, te llamoWhen the movie is over, I'll call you
Se acabó la fiesta, todos a casaThe party ended, everyone go home
to finish off (food or drink)
When you finish off food or drink completely. The se points the finishing back at you, as in "I finished me a whole pizza," emphasizing finishing the whole thing yourself.
Se acabó toda la torta él soloHe finished off the whole cake by himself
Acábate la leche antes de irteFinish off your milk before you leave