French word

terminer

Pronunciation

IPA/tɛʁmine/

Meaning

  • verbfinish

Example

J'ai terminé le travail.

I finished the work.

Illustration for terminer (finish)

More examples

Nous devons terminer la réunion à 18 heures.

We must finish the meeting at 6 p.m.

Core concept

A task or event reaches a clear boundary, leaving no unfinished part.

Common phrases

  • terminer ses études

    finish one's studies

  • terminer la réunion

    finish the meeting

Similar words

finir: Completing a task or action.
se terminer: Coming to a natural end, as an event or state.
arrêter: Stopping an activity before it is finished.

Definition in French

Porter une action ou un événement à sa fin; provoquer la fin de quelque chose.

Word origin

Terminer comes through Old French from Latin terminare, derived from terminus, "boundary," and retains the idea of bringing something to its limit.

Usage tips

  • Terminer takes a direct object without a preposition, as in terminer le travail, while se terminer describes a task or event reaching its own end.

Other meanings

  • endverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word