abierto
/ah-BYEHR-toh/
open
Depicting something that is physically "open" (abierto).
📝 In Action
El banco está abierto de 9 a 5.
A1The bank is open from 9 to 5.
Por favor, deja la ventana abierta, hace calor.
A1Please, leave the window open, it's hot.
Encontré el libro abierto sobre la mesa.
A2I found the book open on the table.
💡 Grammar Points
Adjective Agreement
Like many Spanish describing words, 'abierto' must match the item it describes. If the door is feminine, it is 'abierta'. If the books are masculine plural, they are 'abiertos'.
Temporary State (Estar)
You almost always use 'abierto' with the verb 'estar' (to be temporarily) because being open is usually a temporary state that can change (the door can be closed later).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Ser'
Mistake: "La tienda es abierta."
Correction: La tienda está abierta. (Using 'estar' shows the current state, while 'ser' would imply being open is a permanent, defining characteristic, which is usually not the case.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Checking if a location is operating
If you want to know if a shop or restaurant is open right now, simply ask: '¿Está abierto?'
Illustrating an "open-minded" (abierto) attitude, receptive to new concepts.
abierto(Adjective)
open-minded
?attitude, receptive
friendly
?person's character
,public
?event or meeting
📝 In Action
Ella es una persona muy abierta; siempre escucha diferentes opiniones.
B1She is a very open-minded person; she always listens to different opinions.
El debate de esta noche será abierto a preguntas del público.
B2Tonight's debate will be open to questions from the public.
Soy más abierto sobre mis sentimientos con mis amigos cercanos.
B2I am more frank/open about my feelings with my close friends.
💡 Grammar Points
Permanent Characteristic (Ser)
When describing a person's personality (like being friendly or open-minded), use the verb 'ser' (to be permanent), not 'estar', as this is a defining quality.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Literal Translation of 'Public'
Mistake: "El evento es público."
Correction: El evento es abierto (a todos). (While 'público' is correct, 'abierto' often feels more natural when emphasizing accessibility to the general public, especially for competitions or meetings.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'De mente'
You can strengthen the idea of 'open-minded' by saying 'Ella es una persona de mente abierta' (She is a person of open mind).
Showing the state of something that has been "opened" (abierto), the past participle of 'abrir'.
📝 In Action
Nunca hemos abierto esa caja.
A2We have never opened that box.
Ellos habían abierto el regalo antes de la fiesta.
B1They had opened the gift before the party.
Una vez que hayas abierto la botella, guárdala en la nevera.
B2Once you have opened the bottle, keep it in the fridge.
💡 Grammar Points
The Irregular Past Participle
'Abierto' is the special form of the verb 'abrir' (to open) used to build two-part tenses with the helper verb 'haber' (to have). It does not follow the standard -ado ending.
Used Only with 'Haber'
Unlike the adjectival forms, when 'abierto' is functioning to form a perfect tense, it ONLY pairs with the verb 'haber' (e.g., He abierto = I have opened). It never agrees with the noun when used this way.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Regular Participle
Mistake: "Hemos *abridó* el regalo."
Correction: Hemos abierto el regalo. ('Abridó' does not exist; 'abierto' is the required irregular form.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Recognizing the Form
If you see 'haber' (he, has, ha, hemos, han, etc.) immediately followed by 'abierto,' you know it's describing an action that has been completed, not a descriptive state.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: abierto
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'abierto' to describe a permanent characteristic of a person?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'abierto' used with both 'ser' and 'estar'?
'Abierto' uses 'estar' when describing a temporary physical state (the shop *is open right now*). It uses 'ser' when describing a permanent or defining characteristic, usually referring to a person's personality (she *is an open-minded* person).
If 'abrir' ends in -ir, shouldn't the past participle be 'abridó'?
That's a great question! While most -ir verbs follow that pattern, 'abrir' is one of the important irregular verbs. Its past participle is 'abierto', which you simply have to memorize.