How to use “Abrir” and “Cerrar” in simple Spanish

Introduction

Learning how to say open and close is one of the first practical steps in Spanish. This article explains when and how to use the verbs abrir and cerrar in simple Latin American Spanish. You will get vocabulary, everyday phrases, conjugation basics, dialogs, tips, and common mistakes to help you use these verbs with confidence.

Basic meanings: abrir and cerrar

Abrir means to open. Use it for doors, windows, bottles, apps, and more.

Cerrar means to close or shut. It can also mean to turn off an app or to finish a business day.

Both verbs are regular in the present tense for most forms, but watch for reflexive uses like cerrarse when something closes by itself.

Simple present conjugation (useful first step)

Most beginners start with the present tense to talk about now. Conjugate the verbs in the present like regular -ir and -ar verbs.

Abrir — yo abro, tú abres, él/ella abre, nosotros abrimos, ustedes abren

abrir — yo abro, tú abres, él/ella abre, nosotros abrimos, ustedes abren

Cerrar — yo cierro, tú cierras, él/ella cierra, nosotros cerramos, ustedes cierran

cerrar — yo cierro, tú cierras, él/ella cierra, nosotros cerramos, ustedes cierran

Note the stem change in cerrar for singular and third-person plural: e to ie. This is normal for many -ar verbs.

Common vocabulary and nouns that pair with abrir and cerrar

Here are practical objects and contexts where beginners will use these verbs:

abrir la puerta

abrir la ventana

abrir la botella

abrir la aplicación
abrir el archivo

abrir la cuenta

cerrar la puerta

cerrar la ventana

cerrar la botella

cerrar la sesión
cerrar la tienda

cerrar el archivo

Simple phrases and signs you will see or use

Short phrases appear on signs, apps, and simple messages. These are useful for beginners in daily life.

Por favor, abra la puerta.

¿Puedes cerrar la ventana?

Abrir en minutos

Cerrado — horario de hoy

Abrir aplicación

Cerrar sesión

Everyday dialogs for beginners

Practice with short, realistic conversations. Each line shows when to use abrir or cerrar.

Persona A: ¿Puedes abrir la puerta?

Persona B: Sí, ya la abro.

—

Cliente: ¿A qué hora cierran hoy?

Empleado: Cerramos a las ocho.

—

Amigo: Abre la botella, por favor.

Amiga: Está difícil, yo la cierro primero para ver si funciona.

Imperative (commands) — polite and direct forms

Commands are very common when asking someone to open or close something. Use the informal tú form or the polite usted form depending on who you speak to.

Informal: Abre la puerta. / Cierra la ventana.

Polite: Abra la puerta, por favor. / Cierre la ventana, por favor.

Plural polite: Abran la caja. / Cierren la sesión.

Reflexive and passive uses

Some objects close or open by themselves. Spanish uses reflexive forms or passive constructions:

La puerta se cierra sola por el viento.

La puerta se cierra sola por el viento.

La tienda fue cerrada a las nueve.

La tienda fue cerrada a las nueve.

Use se + verb to indicate that the action happens without naming who does it. Use fue + participle for simple past passive statements.

Past tenses for simple stories (useful beginner forms)

Beginners often learn the simple past to say what opened or closed. Use the preterite and the imperfect for different meanings.

Preterite (completed action): Ayer abrí la ventana. — Ayer abrí la ventana.

Preterite: Ellos cerraron la tienda. — Ellos cerraron la tienda.

Imperfect (habit or background): Siempre abríamos la puerta a las ocho. — Siempre abríamos la puerta a las ocho.

Imperfect: La puerta se cerraba sola. — La puerta se cerraba sola.

Practical examples for apps, devices, and signs

These are short messages you might see on a phone, a device, or a storefront.

Abrir con huella

Cerrar aplicación

Abra la aplicación para continuar

Cerrar todas las ventanas

Horario de apertura 9:00 — 18:00

Local cerrado por mantenimiento

Useful verbs and expressions that pair with abrir and cerrar

Learn these verbs to add natural detail to sentences.

encender — to turn on (a light or device), often paired with cerrar when turning off: encender la luz / apagar la luz

apagar — to turn off: apagar la luz, apagar la computadora

entrar — to enter: entrar cuando la puerta está abierta

salir — to leave: salir cuando la tienda está cerrada

Beginner tips for remembering forms

Memorize the present forms for the people you use most: yo, tú, él/ella, nosotros, ustedes. Use flashcards with images of doors, windows, apps, and bottles.

Group verbs by patterns: abrir follows regular -ir rules. cerrar is a stem-changing verb (e > ie) in most present forms.

Practice short dialogues aloud. Add a small daily routine: each morning say what you open or close.

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

Mixing the stem change: Students often say yo cerrar instead of yo cierro. Remember the stem change applies to all singular forms and third-person plural: yo cierro, tú cierras, ellos cierran.

Wrong reflexive use: Do not use reflexive unless the subject does the action to itself. Say Ella cerró la puerta for She closed the door, not Ella se cerró la puerta.

Using abrir with cerrar objects: Some nouns naturally use one verb. For example, use abrir una cuenta to open an account, and cerrar una cuenta to close an account. Do not swap them.

Practice exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of abrir or cerrar.

1. Por favor, ______ la ventana. (tú)

2. Nosotros ______ la tienda a las nueve. (cerrar, nosotros)

3. Ella ya ______ la aplicación. (abrir, ella)

4. ¿A qué hora ______ ustedes? (cerrar, ustedes)

Answers:

1. Abre

2. Cerramos

3. Abrió

4. Cierran

Short role-play scenarios to try

Scenario 1: At a café

Barista: ¿Quieres que abra la puerta para sentarte afuera?

Customer: Sí, por favor. Abrir la puerta.

Scenario 2: At home

Roommate: ¿Puedes cerrar la ventana? Hace frío.

Response: Claro, ya la cierro.

Quick reference cheat sheet

Open = abrir

Close = cerrar

Commands: Abre, Abra, Abran / Cierra, Cierre, Cierren

Past simple examples: Abrí, Cerré, Cerraron

Conclusion

Mastering abrir and cerrar gives you tools to describe everyday actions like opening doors, closing apps, and managing schedules. Focus on present conjugations, the stem change in cerrar, and common phrases. Practice short dialogs and real-life signs to build confidence quickly.