Finalizar

Finalizar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese with the core meaning of bringing something to a conclusion, ending, or completion. The term derives from Latin finalis and is formed with the -izar suffix in both languages, giving a sense of turning an ongoing state into a final one. In both tongues, finalizar is commonly preferred in formal or technical contexts to indicate the completion of processes, documents, or events.

In Spanish, finalizar is used to indicate that a project, report, deadline, or stage has been completed. It often conveys a formal or official tone, as in finalizar un informe, finalizar un acuerdo, or la reunión finalizó. It is generally interchangeable with terminar or concluir, though finalizar can emphasize the act of bringing something to a defined end, sometimes after a formal assessment or approval.

In Portuguese, finalizar similarly means to finish or close, and is frequently employed in administrative, legal, or business language. It can refer to concluding a contract, encerrar um processo, or finalizar uma etapa de um projeto. In everyday speech, finalizar may be substituted by terminar or concluir, but it is common in written communication and official statements.

Conjugation notes: finalizar is a regular -ar verb in both languages. Spanish present indicative forms are finalizo, finalizas, finaliza, finalizamos, finalizáis, finalizan; pretérito imperfecto and other tenses follow standard -ar conjugation patterns. Portuguese present indicative forms include finalizo, finalizas, finaliza, finalizamos, finalizais, finalizam, with regional variations such as você finaliza. Pretérito perfeito in Portuguese is finalizei, finalizaste, finalizou, finalizamos, finalizastes, finalizaram.