Italian Phrase
Sta per finire.
Meaning
Literally “It is about to finish,” this phrase indicates that something is on the verge of ending. It can refer to a movie, a meeting, a season, or any activity that is nearing its conclusion.
When to use
Use it when you want to point out that an event, process, or object is about to reach its end, especially when the ending is imminent and noticeable.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Staperfinire
Stare + per + infinitive
In Italian, the verb *stare* followed by *per* and an infinitive expresses an action that is about to happen very soon.
Per (preposition)
*Per* introduces the infinitive and signals imminence, similar to English “about to”.
Finire (infinitive)
*Finire* means “to finish, to end”. In this construction it stays in the infinitive form.
🗨In Conversation
Sta per finire il film, vuoi vedere l'ultimo minuto?
The movie is about to finish, do you want to watch the last minute?
Sì, rimaniamo fino alla fine!
Yes, let's stay until the end!
✕Common Mistakes
È per finire il lavoro.
The verb *essere* does not combine with *per* to express imminence; use *stare per* instead.
Sta finire la lezione.
Missing *per* removes the sense of ‘about to’; *sta* alone can mean ‘is staying’.
Sta per finito.
After *stare per* you must keep the infinitive, not the past participle.
↔Alternatives
È quasi finito.
It's almost finished.
Sta per concludersi.
It's about to conclude.
Sta per terminare.
It's about to end.
Cultural Tip
In everyday Italian, *stare per* is a very common way to talk about imminent actions. It’s informal but perfectly acceptable in both spoken and written contexts. Be careful not to confuse it with *essere per*, which is rarely used and sounds archaic.