Are we done yet? Are we getting close?

Question

Does getting close translate? Can you just say "ya estoy" for "I'm done" like you can for it's done "ya está"? Is "aún / todavia estamos terminado" OK (are we done yet) or do you need to say "casi" like almost? "¿Estamos casi terminado?". Can you just say "ya estamos". or even "ya casi estamos". "Ya estamos casi terminado" . As for "getting close" does it translate or do you say "¿Llegamos pronto?" or "¿llegarámos pronto?" or "¿Estamos cerca?" or does "¿Casi estamos?" work? Gracias.

Answer 1

Can you just say "ya estoy" for "I'm done" like you can for it's done "ya está"?

Yes, you can. It is a short for "Ya estoy (listo)" (I am ready).

Is "aún / todavia estamos terminado" OK (are we done yet) or do you need to say "casi" like almost?

No, "aún" and "todavía" don't make sense here. Use "¿Hemos terminado/acabado (ya)?" or "¿Estamos (ya) listos?"

¿Estamos casi terminado?"

Problem: "Estar terminado" means "to be terminated/ruined/deceased". Use "¿Hemos terminado (ya)?

Can you just say "ya estamos". or even "ya casi estamos". "Ya estamos casi terminado"

The first two are good, but the last one is not. "Ya estamos casi terminando" (with a present participle), however, would be "We are almost finishing". With a past participle you start terminating people again.

As for "getting close" does it translate or do you say "¿Llegamos pronto?" or "¿llegarámos pronto?" or "¿Estamos cerca?" or does "¿Casi estamos?" work?

First one is fine, the second is acceptable without an accent, the third and the fourth are fine too.

PS. Spanish people find the expression "I'm done" very weird when they first see it, because a literal translation makes little sense to us. We translate "done" as "hecho" (=made) and we think: I am made? Made of what?

Very nicely explained ;) Thank you for your help Lazarus. - jeezzle, Sep 5, 2010

Answer 2

In Mexico, it's common to use

"Ya mero acabamos /Ya casi acabamos/terminamos /Ya estamos para acabar".........."We´re getting close (to finishing) /We´re almost finished"

"Ya quedó /ya estuvo" .......... "It´s done/finished"

"¿Llegamos/llegaremos pronto?"......... Will we arrive soon?

"Ya estamos para llegar /Ya mero llegamos"..........."We´re about to arrive"