terminarse

Terminarse is a pronominal form of the Spanish verb terminar, used to express that something comes to an end, is finished, or runs out, often with a sense of completion or depletion. The se form can mark that the action affects the subject or the resource involved, or that a change of state has occurred. The verb shares its etymology with terminar, which comes from Latin termināre.

The main senses of terminarse include: (1) the end of an event, period, or process, sometimes conveying that it completed on its own or was brought to a close, as in la reunión se terminó temprano or la película se terminó a las diez. (2) running out or exhaustion of a resource or capability, illustrated by se terminó la leche, se me terminó la paciencia, or se nos terminó el dinero. (3) a relationship or situation reaching its conclusion, as in se terminó la relación. In some dialects, terminars e can also appear with objeto in phrases like terminarse de + infinitivo to emphasize complete finishedness, though this usage is regional and less universal.

Grammar and usage notes: terminars e follows regular -ar conjugation patterns when used with reflexive pronouns (me termino, te terminas, se termina, nos terminamos, os termináis, se terminan). The reflexive form often emphasizes the subject’s involvement in bringing about the end or the depletion (e.g., se me terminó). In contrast, terminar without se is the more neutral option for indicating that something finishes. Terminars e is also common with time expressions and in set phrases like se terminó el plazo or se terminó la paciencia.

See also: terminar, acabar, término.