puerta
/ˈpweɾta/feminine
In Spanish, 'gate' can be translated as puerta, portón or portalón.
Meaning: door-like structure outside (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| puerta | /ˈpweɾta/ | feminine |
| portón | /poɾˈton/ | masculine |
| portalón | /poɾtaˈlon/ | masculine |
Which one should you use?
puerta is the most common word for a standard door in a house or a small gate. portón is used specifically for large, heavy gates, such as those for a driveway, a garage or a large estate. portalón refers to an even larger or more imposing structure than portón, often used for massive industrial gates or the entrance to a large hall.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, the term reja is commonly used to mean 'gate'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of puerta is puertas, the plural of portón is portones and the plural of portalón is portalones.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈpweɾta/
Did you know?
- The word puerta descends from the Latin porta, which originally referred to the gates of a city rather than the doors of a house.
- In many Spanish-speaking architectural contexts, the word portal refers not to a gate, but to the porch or the specific entrance area of a building.
- Spanish uses the suffix -ón in portón and portalón as an augmentative to signal that the gate is physically larger and more imposing than a standard one.
Examples in context
- Pinté el portón azul.I painted the gate blue.Tatoeba #1298254 by marcelostockle, translation #321971 by CK
- Andaron hacia la puerta.They walked toward the gate.Tatoeba #9051273 by Shishir, translation #682209 by Source_VOA
- Es hora de cerrar el portón.It is time to shut the gate.Tatoeba #1441338 by marcelostockle, translation #323938 by CK
- El gran castillo está protegido por una impresionante puerta de entrada.The grand castle is protected by an impressive entrance gate.
- Por favor, cierra la puerta del patio.Please close the garden gate.
- Ayer, instalamos una verja nueva en la entrada a nuestro jardín.Yesterday, we installed a new gate at the entrance to our garden.
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are arriving at a house.
- MateoLa puerta está cerrada con llave.The gate is locked.
- MaríaTengo la llave en mi bolso.I have the key in my bag.
- Mateo¿Puedes abrir la puerta, María?Can you open the gate, María?
- MaríaSí, un momento, por favor.Yes, one moment, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “gate” translations and entries puerta, portón, portalón, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries portalón, puerta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
