French word

finir

Pronunciation

IPA/finiʁ/

Meaning

  • verbfinish

Example

J'ai fini le travail.

I finished the work.

Illustration for finir (finish)

More examples

Je dois finir ce rapport ce soir.

I have to finish this report tonight.

Core concept

A process reaches its boundary as its last step falls into place.

Common phrases

  • finir le travail

    finish the work

  • finir de manger

    finish eating

Similar words

terminer: To bring a task or event to an end.
arrêter: To stop an ongoing action before it is finished.
fermer: To close a shop or meeting and bring it to an end.

Definition in French

Terminer ou achever une action, ou arriver à sa fin, employé au transitif et à l'intransitif.

Word origin

Finir comes through Old French from Latin finire, formed from finis, meaning 'end' or 'boundary', and keeps the idea of reaching a limit.

Usage tips

  • Finir de + infinitive means to finish doing something, while finir par + infinitive means to end up doing something.

Other meanings

  • endverb
  • be completedverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word