el banco está cerrado
/el banko esta θerado/from spelling rules
The English phrase "the bank is closed" is translated into Spanish as el banco está cerrado.
This phrase is used to say that a financial institution is not open for business.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of el (the), banco (bank), está (is – state) and cerrado (closed).
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb estar is used instead of ser because cerrado describes a temporary state or condition of the bank rather than an inherent characteristic.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the feminine form el banco está cerrada because they may associate bank with la entidad or la institución, but since banco is masculine, you must use cerrado.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word banco can refer to both a financial institution and a 'school' or 'shoal' of fish.
- The Spanish word banco is a close relative of the English word 'bench'. Both words originally referred to the long wooden tables or benches where money changers sat to conduct business.
- If you tell someone that a person está cerrado, you are not saying they are physically shut, but rather that they are socially unapproachable or unsociable.
Examples in context
- El banco está cerrado.The bank is closed.Tatoeba #3892205 by marcelostockle, translation #3422326 by CK
- El banco está cerrado los domingos.The bank is closed on Sunday.Tatoeba #1778426 by Shishir, translation #1767967 by CK
- Disculpe, señora, el banco está cerrado por hoy. ¿Puede volver mañana?Excuse me, ma'am, the bank is closed for today. Can you come back tomorrow?
- Lo siento, pero el banco está cerrado ahora.I'm sorry, but the bank is closed now.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are standing in front of a building in the city.
- Javier¿Sabes si podemos entrar?Do you know if we can go in?
- SofíaNo, el banco está cerrado.No, the bank is closed.
- JavierQué mala suerte, Sofía.What bad luck, Sofía.
- SofíaTendremos que volver mañana.We will have to come back tomorrow.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries banco, cerrado, el, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
