Inklingo
← Dictionary

cerrado

se-RRAH-doh/θeˈraðo/ or /seˈraðo/

closed, shut

Also: locked
A simple, solid brown wooden door completely shut within a white frame, illustrating that it is physically closed.

📝 In Action

La oficina está cerrada hasta las nueve.

A1

The office is closed until nine.

¿Por qué tienes el libro tan cerrado?

A2

Why do you have the book so shut?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • clausurado (shut down (officially))
  • tapado (covered)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • circuito cerrado – closed circuit (e.g., CCTV)
  • puerta cerrada – closed door

reserved, unsociable

Also: withdrawn
A small, shy character sitting alone on a simple wooden bench, hugging their knees close to their chest and looking away from the viewer, symbolizing a reserved personality.

📝 In Action

Es una persona muy cerrada, le cuesta hacer nuevos amigos.

B1

He is a very reserved person; it is hard for him to make new friends.

No la juzgues, solo es un poco cerrada al principio.

B2

Don't judge her, she's just a little withdrawn at first.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tímido (shy)
  • introvertido (introverted)

Antonyms

  • sociable (sociable)

narrow-minded, stubborn

Also: dense
A simplistic character standing firm with their arms crossed and a stubborn expression, wearing thick, exaggerated blinders that only allow them to see a very small area straight ahead.

📝 In Action

Es inútil discutir con él; es muy cerrado en sus creencias.

C1

It's useless to argue with him; he is very narrow-minded in his beliefs.

Cuando le explico matemáticas, se pone muy cerrado y no lo capta.

C2

When I explain math to him, he gets very dense/oblivious and doesn't get it.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • terco (stubborn)
  • intolerante (intolerant)

Antonyms

  • flexible (flexible)
  • abierto (open-minded)

Common Collocations

  • mente cerrada – closed mind

closed, finished

A simple wooden chest securely tied shut with a heavy knot on top, illustrating that the action of closing is complete.
infinitivecerrar
gerundcerrando
past Participlecerrado

📝 In Action

Hemos cerrado el negocio por hoy.

A2

We have closed the business for today.

Ella ya había cerrado la caja fuerte antes de que llegáramos.

B1

She had already closed the safe before we arrived.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • ha cerrado – he/she has closed
  • habían cerrado – they had closed

Translate to Spanish

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: cerrado

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'cerrado' to describe a personality trait?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *serare*, meaning 'to bar' or 'to bolt.' The initial sound changed from 's' to 'c/ce' over time in Spanish. The meaning is very close to its Latin root.

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: cerradoItalian (related): serrare

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'cerrado' irregular?

The base verb, 'cerrar,' is an irregular verb because it changes its vowel in the middle when conjugated (e.g., 'yo cierro' instead of 'yo cerro'). However, its past participle form, 'cerrado,' is regular and easy to form.

What is the feminine form of 'cerrado'?

The feminine singular form is 'cerrada,' used when describing feminine nouns, like 'la puerta cerrada' (the closed door).