[en] The chiral phase transition at finite temperature is studied using the non-linear sigma model. Numerical simulations are done near transition with both two and three flavors using U(n)xU(n) and SU(n)xSU(n) flavor symmetries. The order of the phase transition for each of these possibilities is determined. Some of the results show that long wavelength modes can produce a first order transition but require a 20^**3 lattice to see this effect. A summary of these results for the chiral transition at finite temperature with the different flavor symmetries is presented and some implications for the chiral symmetry restoration at finite temperature are discussed. (orig.)