cerrar la puerta
/θeraɾ la pweɾta/from spelling rules
To close door in Spanish is cerrar la puerta.
This phrase is used to describe the action of moving a door so that it blocks the entrance to a room or building. If you are referring to a gate, you might use the word Portón or if you are referring to a bolt, you might use Tranca.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb cerrar is a stem-changing verb where the 'e' changes to 'ie' in many present tense conjugations, such as cierras (you close). To express that someone closed the door in the past, you would use the third person singular form cerró, as in cerró la puerta (he/she closed the door). When referring to a specific door, you must include the definite article la before puerta.
How do you pronounce it?
/θeraɾ la pweɾta/
Did you know?
- The verb cerrar shares a common ancestor with the English word 'serried', used to describe rows of things pressed closely together.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying cerrar la puerta can be ambiguous. A listener might ask if you mean cerrar con llave, which specifically means to lock the door with a key.
- If a door is physically jammed or stuck, a speaker might describe it as trancada, using a term related to the tranca or bolt.
Examples in context
- El señor González le pidió al empleado que cerrara la puerta.Mr. González asked the employee to close the door.
- Cierra la puerta mientras salgo.Close the door while I go out.
- Cierra la puerta, por favor, hace frío.Close the door, please, it's cold.
- No olvides cerrar la puerta al salir.Don't forget to close the door when leaving.
- ¿Puedes cerrar la puerta, por favor?Can you close the door, please?
- Voy a cerrar la puerta para que no entre frío.I am going to close the door so the cold doesn't get in.
Example conversation
At home on a windy afternoon.
- MateoHace mucho viento afuera.It is very windy outside.
- LucíaTienes razón, voy a cerrar la puerta.You're right, I'm going to close the door.
- MateoGracias, Lucía.Thanks, Lucía.
- LucíaDe nada, Mateo.You're welcome, Mateo.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cerrar, la, puerta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
