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How to Say "locked" in Spanish

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cerrado

se-RRAH-doh/θeˈraðo/ or /seˈraðo/

adjectiveA1general
Use 'cerrado' when referring to a place or object that is secured or not open to the public, implying it is locked.
A simple, solid brown wooden door completely shut within a white frame, illustrating that it is physically closed.

Examples

La puerta del garaje está cerrada.

The garage door is locked.

La oficina está cerrada hasta las nueve.

The office is closed until nine.

¿Por qué tienes el libro tan cerrado?

Why do you have the book so shut?

Adjective Agreement

Like many Spanish descriptions, 'cerrado' must match the thing it describes in both gender and number: 'la tienda está cerrada' (feminine singular), 'los ojos están cerrados' (masculine plural).

Using Ser instead of Estar

Mistake: “La tienda es cerrada.”

Correction: La tienda está cerrada. Use 'estar' because being closed is usually a temporary state, not an inherent quality.

cerró

verbA1general
Use 'cerró' when describing the past action of closing something, which might imply locking it, but the primary meaning is the act of closing.

Examples

Él cerró la tienda a las seis de la tarde.

He closed the shop at six in the afternoon.

Adjective vs. Verb Usage

Learners often confuse 'cerrado' (adjective) and 'cerró' (verb). Remember that 'cerrado' describes a state of being secured or closed, while 'cerró' describes the past action of closing.

Related Translations

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