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cerco

SER-koh/ˈθeɾko/

“cerco” means “fence” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

fence, siege

Also: rim, halo
NounmB1
General
A white wooden picket fence standing in a green grassy field under a clear blue sky.

📝 In Action

El granjero construyó un cerco de madera para proteger a sus ovejas.

A2

The farmer built a wooden fence to protect his sheep.

La policía estableció un cerco alrededor del edificio para que nadie escapara.

B2

The police set up a perimeter around the building so that no one would escape.

Había un cerco de luz alrededor de la luna anoche.

C1

There was a halo of light around the moon last night.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • valla (fence)
  • asedio (siege)
  • perímetro (perimeter)

Antonyms

  • apertura (opening)
  • liberación (release/liberation)

Common Collocations

  • romper el cerco – to break the siege/blockade
  • cerco policial – police perimeter
  • estrechar el cerco – to close in on / to tighten the circle

Idioms & Expressions

  • poner cerco – to besiege or to corner someone/something

I enclose, I surround

VerbB1regular with spelling change ar
A small garden area completely surrounded by a low stone wall.
gerundcercando
past Participlecercado
infinitivecercar

📝 In Action

Yo cerco el jardín todos los años para que no entren conejos.

B1

I fence the garden every year so rabbits don't get in.

Si cerco la zona, podremos trabajar con seguridad.

B2

If I cordoned off the area, we will be able to work safely.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescercaran
yocercara
túcercaras
vosotroscercarais
nosotroscercáramos
él/ella/ustedcercara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescerquen
yocerque
túcerques
vosotroscerquéis
nosotroscerquemos
él/ella/ustedcerque

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedescercaron
yocerqué
túcercaste
vosotroscercasteis
nosotroscercamos
él/ella/ustedcercó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedescercaban
yocercaba
túcercabas
vosotroscercabais
nosotroscercábamos
él/ella/ustedcercaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedescercan
yocerco
túcercas
vosotroscercáis
nosotroscercamos
él/ella/ustedcerca
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "cerco" in Spanish:

fence→halo→i enclose→i surround→rim→siege→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cerco

Question 1 of 3

If a city is under 'un cerco', what is happening?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cerca(fence / near) — Noun / Adverb
cercar(to surround) — Verb
cercado(fenced area) — Noun
cercanía(proximity) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'circus', meaning 'circle' or 'ring'. It evolved to describe anything that forms a circle around something else.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: circleFrench: cercle

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'cerca' and 'cerco'?

'Cerca' usually means 'near' (adverb) or a garden fence (noun). 'Cerco' is more formal, used for military sieges, perimeters, or the 'I' form of the verb 'to fence'.

Can 'cerco' be used for glasses?

Yes! The 'cerco' or 'marco' refers to the frames of the glasses.

Is 'cerco' common in daily conversation?

As a 'fence', it is less common than 'valla' or 'cerca', but in news and sports (meaning to close in on a target), it is extremely common.