Have you ever wanted to tell someone in Spanish that you just did something — as in, moments ago? There's a very elegant and commonly used construction for that: acabar de + infinitive. In this lesson, we'll break down how it works, look at some real examples, and cover a handy bonus tip about object pronouns.

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What Does Acabar de Mean in Spanish?

Acabar de combines the verb acabar (to finish) with the preposition de to express the idea of having just completed an action in the very recent past. Think of it as the Spanish equivalent of "to have just done something." The formula is simple:

📌 acabar (conjugated) + de + verb in the infinitive

The key is that acabar must always be conjugated to match the subject, while the second verb stays in the infinitive form. Let's look at some examples:

Acabo de dormir una siesta.

I just took a nap.

Toño acaba de salir a la tienda.

Toño just left to the store.

No se vayan tan pronto. ¡Acaban de llegar!

Don't leave so soon. You guys just arrived!

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Acabar de in Action: Real Spanish Examples

Let's hear how native speakers use acabar de in real conversations:

Esta empresa acaba de inventar un teléfono con un montón de nuevas funciones

This company just invented a phone with a ton of new features

Caption 7, Negocios La solicitud de empleo - Part 1

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Acabo de salir de la entrevista de trabajo. ¡Me fue más bien!

I just got out of a work interview. It went really well for me!

Caption 69, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 5 - Part 11

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¿Cómo se llama el baile que acabas de ver?

What is the name of the dance that you just saw?

Caption 44, Tu Música La trivia del ritmo - Part 3

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Keep Exploring the Verb Acabar

Acabar de is just one of the many ways this versatile verb is used in Spanish. If you'd like to explore all its other meanings — from "to end up" to "to break up with someone" to "¡Se acabó!" — check out our full lesson: The Many Meanings of the Spanish Verb Acabar.

We hope this was helpful! Got questions or something you'd like us to cover? We'd love to hear from you — write to us with your comments and questions. ¡Hasta la próxima!