Spanish Phrase
Acabo de cenar.
Meaning
Literally ‘I have just finished dinner.’ It signals that the speaker has only moments ago completed the act of eating the evening meal.
When to use
Use this phrase right after you finish your evening meal, when someone asks if you have eaten, or when you want to explain why you are no longer hungry.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Acabodecenar
Acabo de + infinitivo
The construction *acabo de* + infinitive expresses an action that has just finished. It is the present perfect of a very recent past.
Cenar (infinitive)
Cenar is the infinitive form of the verb ‘to have dinner’. In this structure it stays in the infinitive, not conjugated.
🗨In Conversation
¿Ya comiste?
Did you already eat?
Acabo de cenar.
I just finished dinner.
✕Common Mistakes
Acabo cenar.
The preposition *de* is required after *acabo* in this construction.
Acabo de cenado.
After *acabo de* you must use the infinitive, not the past participle *cenado*.
Acabo de cenar ahora.
*Acabo de* already implies ‘just now’, so adding *ahora* is redundant.
↔Alternatives
Recién cené.
I just ate dinner.
Ya he cenado.
I have already had dinner.
Terminé de cenar.
I finished dinner.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries dinner (cena) is eaten later than in the U.S., often between 8 pm and 10 pm. Saying *Acabo de cenar* can also be a polite way to decline more food or an invitation to keep talking, because you’re indicating you’re no longer hungry.