start = empezar

finish = acabar

is it commenly used.'.. can you please provid me some examples.. cuase I know that Terminar also means to finish.. the way my teacher explained it to me is that .. Terminar is more general but Acabar is more specific .. but still dont kow how to use it

Acabar has so many uses that you need to have context as to how to use it. Below are a few cases.

To finish doing something - he acabado hablando - I have finished speaking
To finish with - cuando acabe con ella, te lavo la cabeza - when I am finished with her, I will wash your hair
To finish off - acabaron con la tarta - They finished off the tart
To do away with - acabemos con él - Let's do away with him
To have just - acabo de llamarla por teléfono - I have just telephoned her
To end up - acabó aceptándolo - He ended up accepting it
To finish/split up (as in a relationship) - hemos acabado - we've finished

In Latin America "acabar a alguien" is to speak ill of somebody. Acabar also means the result doing something sexual between a man and a woman but I will let you research that one. hehe

I assume you mean the right meaning of acabar.

Here's a link to a very helpful example motley posted a while back:

[url=http://my.spanishdict.com/forum/topic/show'id=1710195%3ATopic%3A216145]http://my.spanishdict.com/forum/topic/show'id=1710195%3ATopic%3A216145[/url]

Also, some sentences from La sombra del viento: (it helps me to remember things if I have an interesting context)

Nunca le dejaba acabar sus frases.

--¿Y usted, maestro, no tenía una sinfonía que acabar?

--Para tener casi once años no mientas mal. Vigila, o acabarás como mi tío.

Thanks guys this was really helpful

One more great example, this one from a post by Heidita:

Y me dijo: pues está claro: que se te ha acabado el matacucarachas.

You missed an important phrase that acabar uses
(Ser) acabado
Estoy acabado - I am finished/wornout/no more energy

and of course all other conjugations of this phrase Estas acacbado; estamos acabados ... etc

you know guys this is the first time for me to post a descussion.. I have never imagined that it's going to be that helpful..... thanks to all of you

Did you mean to write: (Estar) acabado as in your examples?

Miguel Theodore said:

You missed an important phrase that acabar uses(Ser) acabadoEstoy acabado - I am finished/wornout/no more energyand of course all other conjugations of this phrase Estas acacbado; estamos acabados ... etc

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Nice list but oh this "he acabado hablando" sounds so strange!

Eddy said:

Acabar has so many uses that you need to have context as to how to use it. Below are a few cases.To finish doing something - he acabado hablando - I have finished speakingTo finish with - cuando acabe con ella, te lavo la cabeza - when I am finished with her, I will wash your hairTo finish off - acabaron con la tarta - They finished off the tartTo do away with - acabemos con él - Let's do away with himTo have just - acabo de llamarla por teléfono - I have just telephoned herTo end up - acabó aceptándolo - He ended up accepting itTo finish/split up (as in a relationship) - hemos acabado - we've finishedIn Latin America "acabar a alguien" is to speak ill of somebody. Acabar also means the result doing something sexual between a man and a woman but I will let you research that one. hehe

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Eddy said:

To finish doing something - he acabado hablando - I have finished speaking

Actually the correct translation for this sentence is "I ended up speaking".

I (have) ended up speaking = He ababado hablando
I have finished speaking = He acabado de hablar

tutifruti said:

Nice list but oh this "he acabado hablando" sounds so strange!

Eddy said:

Acabar has so many uses that you need to have context as to how to use it. Below are a few cases.To finish doing something - he acabado hablando - I have finished speakingTo finish with - cuando acabe con ella, te lavo la cabeza - when I am finished with her, I will wash your hairTo finish off - acabaron con la tarta - They finished off the tartTo do away with - acabemos con él - Let's do away with himTo have just - acabo de llamarla por teléfono - I have just telephoned herTo end up - acabó aceptándolo - He ended up accepting itTo finish/split up (as in a relationship) - hemos acabado - we've finishedIn Latin America "acabar a alguien" is to speak ill of somebody. Acabar also means the result doing something sexual between a man and a woman but I will let you research that one. hehe

It is strange because it is incorrect. It should be as Lazarus has stated above.