Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| encerramiento | /enθeraˈmjento/ /enseraˈmjento/ |
masculine |
| cierre de emergencia | /θjere de emeɾxenθja/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sjere de emeɾxensja/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
masculine |
The term is used to describe emergency confinement. While confinamiento became the most standard way to refer to a lockdown in many Spanish-speaking countries, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, other terms are also used depending on the context. For example, the feminine noun cuarentena is a formal translation and encierro can mean lockdown, though it also refers to captivity or imprisonment.
Which one should you use?
The form encerramiento is the default. In formal contexts, you may also use confinamiento or cuarentena.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin American nations, the phrase toque de queda is used to refer to a type of curfew or restricted movement measures.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun encerramiento is masculine and requires the masculine article el when used in a sentence, such as in el encerramiento.
How do you pronounce it?
/enθeraˈmjento/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the word encierro refers to the famous tradition of running with the bulls in Pamplona, where animals are driven from a closed space into the streets.
- The word cuarentena refers to a lockdown or quarantine and is derived from the Spanish word for the number forty.
- The word cierre comes from the verb cerrar, which shares its deep roots with the Latin word sera, meaning 'bolt' or 'latch'.
Examples in context
- Debido al aumento de casos de COVID-19, el gobierno ha implementado un estricto confinamiento en todo el país.Due to the rise in COVID-19 cases, the government has implemented a strict lockdown nationwide.
- La cuarentena fue decretada para prevenir la propagación del virus en la región.The lockdown was decreed to prevent the spread of the virus in the region.
- Durante el encierro, aproveché para leer libros y aprender nuevas recetas de cocina.During the lockdown, I took the opportunity to read books and learn new cooking recipes.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about the recent restrictions.
- JavierElena, ¿cuánto duró el encerramiento?Elena, how long did the lockdown last?
- ElenaDuró tres semanas, Javier.It lasted three weeks, Javier.
- JavierFue un tiempo muy difícil.It was a very difficult time.
- ElenaSí, fue muy frustrante.Yes, it was very frustrating.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lockdown” translations and entries encerramiento, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cierre, de, emergencia, encerramiento, CC BY-SA 4.0.
