interjection

se acabó

say ah-kah-BOH

Se acabó (interjection) means a Spanish expression meaning it is over, it is finished, or there is none left, used to declare that something has definitively ended. Example: “Se acabó, said the coach, and walked out of the dressing room.”

interjection

Spanish A Spanish expression meaning it is over, it is finished, or there is none left, used to declare that something has definitively ended.

"Se acabó, said the coach, and walked out of the dressing room."

"No hay más café, se acabó."

phrase

Spanish Used as a slogan of refusal, most familiar in English-language coverage of Spanish feminist protest, where it means enough, this ends now.

"Players wore shirts reading se acabó."

How to Use Se acabó

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSpanish for that's it, it's over.

When to use it

Spanish, not naturalised English; used in English writing as a quoted phrase or slogan.

Memory tip

Keep the accent on acabó; acabo without it means I finish.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

se terminó basta →

Common pairings

se acabó el tiempo ya se acabó

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____, said the coach, and walked out of the dressing room.

Etymology

From Spanish acabar, meaning to finish or end, with the reflexive se and the past tense form acabó, so literally it finished itself.

Origin: Spanish

Synonyms

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it's over that's the end of it that's it all gone

Frequently Asked Questions

What does se acabó mean in English?

It's over, it's finished, or it's all gone, depending on context. Said of a supply it means there is none left; said of a situation it means the matter is closed.

What is the difference between se acabó and se terminó?

They overlap almost completely. Se acabó leans towards something being used up or brought to a hard stop, and carries more emotional force, while se terminó is the flatter, more neutral it has ended.

How do you pronounce se acabó?

Say ah-kah-BOH, with the stress on the final syllable, which is what the accent on the o marks.