French · Everyday Verbs
"to close" in French: fermer
fermer
To close in French is fermer. Je ferme means I close. Fermé on a door means closed. Close a window with Ferme la fenêtre.
Leaving home
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How to pronounce fermer
Say it
fehr-MAY
/fɛʁ.me/
fehr-MAY. Soft f, open e in fer, ay ending for the infinitive.
"to close" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| fermer | to close Infinitive. | Infinitive. |
| je ferme / tu fermes | I close / you close Present. | Present. |
| fermé(e) | closed Past participle / adjective on signs. | Past participle / adjective on signs. |
| fermeture | closing / closure Hours: heure de fermeture. | Hours: heure de fermeture. |
How to use fermer in real life
- 1Leaving home
Tu fermes la porte à clé ?
Are you locking the door?
Fermer la porte à clé for lock.
- 2In a shop
On ferme à dix-neuf heures.
We close at seven p.m.
Shop closing time.
- 3Weather
Ferme la fenêtre, il pleut.
Close the window; it's raining.
Imperative ferme with tu.
Mistakes English speakers make with fermer
Incorrect: Je close la porte.
Correct: Je ferme la porte.
Use fermer, not English close.
Incorrect: Le magasin est close.
Correct: Le magasin est fermé.
Closed is fermé.
Good to know
Shop doors often show Ouvert / Fermé. Midday fermeture for lunch still happens in smaller towns. Fermer à clé means to lock, not only to shut.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Leaving an apartment
ChatPal
Tu as fermé les fenêtres ?
Did you close the windows?
You
Oui, et je ferme la porte maintenant.
Yes, and I'm closing the door now.
ChatPal
Parfait. Ferme bien à clé.
Perfect. Lock it properly.
You
C'est fait. On y va.
Done. Let's go.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to close" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to close" in French
How do I say close the door?
Ferme la porte (tu) or fermez la porte (vous).
What does fermé mean on a sign?
Closed.
How do I say we close at 7?
On ferme à dix-neuf heures.
What is fermer à clé?
To lock.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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