de mente cerrada
/de mente θerada/from spelling rules
The Spanish phrase for 'close minded' is de mente cerrada.
This phrase is used to describe someone who is unwilling to consider new ideas or different opinions.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the preposition de (of), the noun mente (mind) and the adjective cerrada (closed).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase de mente cerrada is an adjectival phrase that remains invariant even if the noun it modifies is plural, because the word mente stays singular, such as in personas de mente cerrada. You can also use the adjective cerrado or cerrada alone to describe a person as being narrow-minded or closed off. To express the opposite, 'open-minded', replace the adjective cerrada with abierta to get de mente abierta.
How do you pronounce it?
/de mente θerada/
Did you know?
- While de mente cerrada describes a mindset, calling someone cerrado in a social context can also mean they are shy or emotionally guarded.
- The word mente in this phrase is a semi-learned borrowing from the Latin mentem, which replaced the original, inherited Old Spanish form miente.
- Spanish speakers often use the reflexive verb cerrarse to describe the act of becoming close-minded during an argument, as if they are physically 'closing' themselves off to logic.
Examples in context
- Mi amigo es muy cuadrado, nunca quiere probar cosas nuevas.My friend is very close minded, he never wants to try new things.
- No seas de mente cerrada.Don't be close-minded.
- Es una persona de mente cerrada.He is a close-minded person.
- A veces parece de mente cerrada con los cambios.Sometimes she seems close-minded regarding changes.
Example conversation
María and Mateo are discussing a new way of working.
- MaríaDeberíamos probar este nuevo método.We should try this new method.
- MateoNo creo que funcione, prefiero lo antiguo.I don't think it will work, I prefer the old way.
- MaríaMateo, no seas tan de mente cerrada.Mateo, don't be so close minded.
- MateoEstá bien, intentémoslo una vez.Alright, let's try it once.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, mente, CC BY-SA 4.0.
