How to Say "to unlock" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to unlock” is “abrir” — use 'abrir' when referring to the physical act of opening something that is closed, like a door, a gate, or a container, which implies 'unlocking' it to gain access.
Use 'abrir' when referring to the physical act of opening something that is closed, like a door, a gate, or a container, which implies 'unlocking' it to gain access.
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Use 'movilizar' when you mean to free up or set in motion something that was previously restricted or immobile, such as body parts after injury or withheld resources.
Learn more →ah-BREERaˈβɾiɾ
Examples
Por favor, abre la puerta para que entre el perro.
Please, open the door so the dog can come in.
Ella siempre abre su libro de texto antes de la clase.
She always opens her textbook before class.
Abierto vs. Abrido
The past participle ('-ado' or '-ido' form) of 'abrir' is irregular: it's 'abierto,' not 'abrido'. This form is used to create compound tenses (He abierto) or as an adjective (La tienda está abierta).
mo-bee-lee-SAHRmo.βi.liˈθaɾ
Examples
El fisioterapeuta empezó a movilizar mi rodilla después de la cirugía.
The physiotherapist started to mobilize my knee after the surgery.
Necesitamos movilizar el capital estancado para nuevos proyectos.
We need to mobilize stagnant capital for new projects.
Active Voice
This verb is almost always used to show that someone is intentionally making something move or work again.
Abrir vs. Movilizar
Learners often incorrectly use 'abrir' for non-physical unlocking. Remember that 'abrir' is for physically opening something, while 'movilizar' is for freeing up movement or resources that were previously stuck or unavailable.
Related Translations
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