encerrar
“encerrar” means “to lock up” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to lock up, to shut in
Also: to enclose
📝 In Action
Tienes que encerrar al perro antes de salir.
A2You have to shut the dog in before leaving.
Encerré las joyas en la caja fuerte.
B1I locked the jewelry in the safe.
La policía encerró al ladrón en la celda.
B1The police locked the thief in the cell.
to contain, to involve
Also: to hold
📝 In Action
Ese cofre encierra un gran secreto.
B2That chest holds a great secret.
Sus palabras encierran una profunda tristeza.
C1Her words contain a deep sadness.
El proyecto encierra muchos riesgos para la empresa.
B2The project involves many risks for the company.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: encerrar
Question 1 of 3
Which form of 'encerrar' is correct for 'We lock up'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Spanish prefix 'en-' (in/into) combined with 'cerrar' (to close), which comes from the Latin 'serrare' (to bolt or lock).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'encerrar' the same as 'cerrar'?
Not quite. 'Cerrar' means to close something (like a door or a book). 'Encerrar' means to put something *inside* a space and then close it so it can't get out.
Can I use 'encerrar' for feelings?
Yes! You can say someone 'encierra sus sentimientos' (locks up their feelings) if they don't like to show them.
Why does the 'e' change to 'ie'?
It's a common pattern in Spanish verbs. When the stress of the word falls on that specific 'e', it splits into 'ie' to make it easier to emphasize.