cerrar
verbBeginnerHigh frequency
What does “cerrar” mean in English?
to close
Example sentences
Cierra la puerta al salir.
Close the door on your way out.
Cierro los ojos.
I close my eyes.
La tienda cierra a las ocho.
The shop closes at eight.
How to use it
Cerrar means 'to close'. Irregular with e→ie stem change: cierro, cierras, cierra, cerramos, cerráis, cierran. Stem change disappears in 1pl/2pl.
Common mistake
Stem change e→ie applies in 1sg, 2sg, 3sg, 3pl: cierro, cierras, cierra, cierran. But 1pl/2pl revert: cerramos, cerráis (not 'cierramos'). Standard for e→ie verbs.
Topics
Related Beginner words
Reference
This entry’s teaching guidance follows A New Reference Grammar of Modern Spanish (Butt, Benjamin & Moreira Rodríguez, Routledge), 13.