Meaning
To move a window to a closed position.
Cultural Background
In many coastal cities, closing windows at dusk is a ritual to keep out 'muriçocas' (mosquitoes). The 'corrente de ar' (draft) is taken very seriously; people will often close windows even in summer if they feel a breeze. In Luanda, windows are often closed during the 'cacimbo' (dry, cool season) to keep out the dust and the morning chill. During the cyclone season, 'fechar a janela' is followed by 'trancar' (locking) to ensure safety against high winds.
The Vowel Shift
Remember: 'Eu fEcho' (closed E) but 'Você fEcha' (open E). This is a common pattern in -ar verbs.
Drafts
If you are in a group and feel a breeze, it's polite to ask 'Posso fechar a janela?' before doing it.
Meaning
To move a window to a closed position.
The Vowel Shift
Remember: 'Eu fEcho' (closed E) but 'Você fEcha' (open E). This is a common pattern in -ar verbs.
Drafts
If you are in a group and feel a breeze, it's polite to ask 'Posso fechar a janela?' before doing it.
Car Windows
In Brazil, for safety, people often keep windows closed in traffic. Use 'fechar o vidro' in this context.
Digital Context
On a Mac or PC in Portuguese, the menu option will always say 'Fechar'.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb 'fechar'.
Eu ______ a janela porque está frio.
The first person singular 'Eu' requires the ending '-o'.
Which sentence is correct for a polite request?
Asking a stranger to close a window:
Using 'pode' and 'por favor' makes the request polite.
Match the situation with the reason to close the window.
Situations and Reasons
All pairs correctly associate the action with a logical reason.
Fill in the missing word in the dialogue.
A: Está muito barulho lá fora. B: Verdade. Vou ______ a janela.
Closing the window is the logical response to outside noise.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Fechar vs. Desligar
Reasons to Close the Window
Weather
- • Chuva
- • Vento
- • Frio
Pests
- • Mosquitos
- • Moscas
Practice Bank
4 exercisesEu ______ a janela porque está frio.
The first person singular 'Eu' requires the ending '-o'.
Asking a stranger to close a window:
Using 'pode' and 'por favor' makes the request polite.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
All pairs correctly associate the action with a logical reason.
A: Está muito barulho lá fora. B: Verdade. Vou ______ a janela.
Closing the window is the logical response to outside noise.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsTechnically yes, but it sounds very old-fashioned or like Spanish. Stick to 'fechar'.
Yes, but 'vidro' (glass) is more common when talking about the physical part you slide up and down.
You say 'A janela está emperrada'.
'Fechar' is general; 'encerrar' is more formal and often used for meetings or business cycles.
Yes, in Portuguese we almost always use the article: 'fechar A janela'.
Use 'fechar as persianas'.
Yes, it is identical in both countries.
Yes, like a 'window of time' between two appointments.
It's the Portuguese title for the Hitchcock movie 'Rear Window'.
Use 'fechar bem a janela'.
Related Phrases
Abrir a janela
contrastTo open the window
Fechar a porta
similarTo close the door
Janela de oportunidade
specialized formWindow of opportunity
Subir o vidro
similarTo roll up the car window
Encerrar a sessão
builds onTo log out/close session
