Por fin ! - or - Al fin !

Question

Por fin ! -or - Al fin !

I think I have heard both above - meaning Finally! or At last!

What is the difference? - if any

Answer 1

Hi Ian.

I think that por fin means finally/at last, as in "Por fin he encontrado mi amor", whereas "al fin" indicates the termination of something, as in, "al fin de la calle." But then you go to say "at the end of the month" and it's: "al fines de la mes."

Gracias amigo - ian-hill, Nov 28, 2011

Answer 2

rae

It seems that "al fin" means "at last" after overcoming all obtacles, while "por fin" means "at last" something you have been waiting for finally happened.

Por fin: finally getting your beer in a restaurant wth slow service.

Al fin: finally getting a legal beer at the end of Prohibition.

Since the rest of life is just a simplified metaphor for drinking beer, further usage should be clear.

;)) - territurtle, Nov 28, 2011

je je - I just love some of your "extra info" - ian-hill, Nov 28, 2011

All of life can be summarized in a mug of beer. - pesta, Nov 28, 2011