Inklingo

How to Say "to lock" in Spanish

English → Spanish

asegurar

ah-seh-goo-RAHRaseɣuˈɾaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'asegurar' when you are physically securing an object or a place, often with a key or by fastening it firmly.
A shiny silver padlock fastened securely onto a heavy wooden gate, illustrating the act of fastening or making safe.

Examples

El guardia aseguró la puerta principal con varias cerraduras.

The guard locked the main door with several locks.

El carpintero aseguró la mesa a la pared para que no se cayera.

The carpenter secured the table to the wall so it wouldn't fall over.

Asegura la carga con estas cuerdas.

Fasten the load with these ropes.

Securing Actions

This meaning often involves physical objects. Think of it as making sure something is stable and won't move.

bloquear

blo-keh-ahrblo.keˈaɾ

verbB1general
Use 'bloquear' when you are preventing access to something digital, like a phone, account, or card, or when stopping movement.
A bright blue credit card encased inside a solid, translucent block of ice.

Examples

Si pierdes tu teléfono, debes bloquearlo inmediatamente.

If you lose your phone, you must lock it immediately.

Tuve que bloquear mi tarjeta porque la perdí.

I had to block my card because I lost it.

El banco bloqueó mi cuenta por seguridad.

The bank froze my account for security.

Si pones mal el PIN tres veces, el móvil se bloquea.

If you enter the wrong PIN three times, the phone locks itself.

The 'Self' Form

When a phone locks itself, we add 'se': 'El móvil se bloqueó' (The phone locked/blocked itself).

Using 'freezar'

Mistake: “Voy a freezar mi cuenta.”

Correction: Voy a bloquear mi cuenta. 'Freezar' is Spanglish and not common in most countries.

Physical vs. Digital Locking

Learners often confuse 'asegurar' and 'bloquear' because both can mean 'to lock'. Remember that 'asegurar' is for physical security, like locking a door, while 'bloquear' is typically for digital access or preventing movement.

Related Translations

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