terminar

Terminar is a Spanish verb meaning to end, finish, or terminate. It is used to indicate the completion of an action, the conclusion of a process, or the bringing to a close of a state or event. The term can describe both temporary and permanent conclusions depending on context and is common in everyday speech as well as in formal writing.

Etymology: The verb derives from Latin terminare, from terminus, meaning end or boundary. It has cognates in many Romance languages, such as French terminer and English terminate.

Usage: It is a regular -ar verb that takes a direct object, as in terminar el informe (to finish the report). It also uses the structure terminar de + infinitivo to indicate completion of an ongoing action, as in Terminé de comer or Terminó de hablar. The phrasal terminar con can mean to end or terminate something, often to end a relationship (terminar con alguien) or to put an end to a problem (terminar con un problema). The past participle terminado is used to form compound tenses (he terminado, habían terminado, etc.).

Conjugation notes: Like other -ar verbs, terminar follows regular endings. Present: termino, terminas, termina, terminamos, termináis, terminan. Preterite: terminé, terminaste, terminó, terminamos, terminasteis, terminaron. Imperfect: terminaba, terminabas, terminaba, terminábamos, terminabais, terminaban. Subjunctive present: termine, termines, termine, terminemos, terminéis, terminen. Imperative: (tú) termina, (usted) termine, (nosotros) terminemos, (vosotros) terminad, (ustedes) terminen. Past participle: terminado.

See also: terminación (ending), terminación de un proceso, synonymes such as concluir, finalizar, completar.