cerrar vs apagar
Spanish word comparison
Listen to cerrar
Listen to apagar
| cerrar | apagar |
|---|---|
/seh-RAR/ verb | //apaˈɣar// verb |
| to close or shut (a door, window, program, business, etc.) | to turn off or extinguish (lights, devices, engines); sometimes used colloquially for shutting down a device or its applications. |
How they differ
Apagar focuses on cutting power or extinguishing (e.g., lights, machines), whereas cerrar focuses on closing an object or session; apagar is not the precise verb for closing a file but is used for turning off devices.
When to use each
When to use cerrar: Use cerrar when you mean to close an object, window, document, or program (i.e., end access or visibility), not to remove power.
When to use apagar: Use apagar when you mean to turn off power, extinguish, or in casual speech when shutting down a device or its entire system.
Side-by-side examples
- Cerré el programa antes de reiniciar el ordenador.
(I closed the program before restarting the computer.) - Apagué el ordenador después de terminar mi trabajo.
(I turned off the computer after finishing my work.)
Register & nuance: Apagar is neutral and common in everyday speech; it is less precise than cerrar when referring to closing files or individual applications.
- See the full Word of the Day entry for cerrar
- See the Word of the Day entry for apagar
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