To finish something or bring it to an end
Encoding Strategies:
linguistic
terminate
to bring something to an end
+
-ar
verb suffix
Terminar means to finish and is related to the English word terminate0.
terminar
to finish, to end
When something comes to an end, whether you finish it or it ends on its own.
Terminé el informe antes de la reuniónI finished the report before the meeting
La película termina a las diezThe movie ends at ten
to end up (doing something)
When you end up doing something. It names how things finished, often not the way you planned.
Al final terminamos comiendo en casaIn the end we ended up eating at home
Empezó como mesero y terminó dirigiendo el restauranteHe started as a waiter and ended up running the restaurant
terminar 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 termines de trabajarLet me know when you finish working
Todavía no he terminado de leer el libroI still haven't finished reading the book
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.
La idea no me termina de convencerThe idea doesn't quite convince me
No termino de entender por qué se fueI don't fully understand why he left
terminar con
to break up with (relationship)
When you break up with someone, you finish your relationship with them.
Terminó con su novio después de tres añosShe broke up with her boyfriend after three years
¿Por qué terminaste con ella?Why did you break up with her?
to put an end to
When you put an end to a problem or situation so it doesn't continue. You are finished with it for good.
El gobierno quiere terminar con la corrupciónThe government wants to put an end to corruption
Hay que terminar con este desordenWe have to put an end to this mess
terminarse
to run out
When you run out of something. The supply literally finishes itself off, so nothing is left.
Se terminó la leche, hay que comprar másThe milk ran out, we need to buy more
Se nos terminó el tiempoWe ran out of time
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 terminó toda la pizza él soloHe finished off the whole pizza by himself
Termínate la sopa antes de que se enfríeFinish off your soup before it gets cold