Fermé (or its feminine form, fermée) is the most common way to say “closed” in French. But there are several other options, each with its own nuances and contexts.

As you learn French, you'll encounter various situations where something is closed – be it a shop, a museum, or even a discussion. Knowing these different ways to express "closed" will not only enrich your vocabulary but also help you understand and be understood more precisely.

Let’s look at 9 common and useful ways to say “closed” in French!

The standard 'closed' (for shops, doors, eyes) – fermé/fermée

The standard “closed” (for shops, doors, eyes) – fermé/fermée

Fermé(e) is the most basic, common word for “closed” in French. It functions as an adjective, meaning its ending must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes.

This word has to agree with the noun or nouns it’s referring to, so you’ll see it either as:fermé - masculine singular (e.g., un magasin fermé - a closed shop)fermée - feminine singular (e.g., une porte fermée - a closed door)fermés - masculine plural (e.g., des bureaux fermés - closed offices)fermées - feminine plural (e.g., les fenêtres fermées - the closed windows)

The most frequent use of fermé(e) is to indicate that a business, office, or public place is not open for operation. It's often seen on signs.

You also use fermé(e) to describe physical objects that are shut, such as doors, windows, books, or boxes.

When referring to a person's eyes, fermé(e) is the correct term to say they are shut.

It's important to remember that fermé(e) is the past participle of the verb fermer (to close), but in these contexts, it primarily acts as an adjective describing a state.

Beyond its literal meaning, fermé(e) can appear in expressions like avoir l'esprit fermé (to be close-minded) or être fermé à la discussion (to be unwilling to discuss).

The direct opposite of fermé(e) is ouvert(e) (open), which follows the same rules of gender and number agreement.

💡 * Le magasin est fermé le dimanche. (The shop is closed on Sundays.)

• La porte était fermée à clé. (The door was locked/closed with a key.)
• Garde les yeux fermés. (Keep your eyes closed.)
• J'ai trouvé le livre fermé sur la table. (I found the book closed on the table.)
• Ils ont l'esprit très fermé aux nouvelles idées. (They are very close-minded to new ideas.)

The 'closed' (for an enclosure, a debate, a garden) – clos/close

When discussing something that is 'closed' in French, especially in the sense of being enclosed, finished, or concluded, you'll often encounter the adjective clos (masculine singular) or close (feminine singular).

The primary usage of clos/close refers to something that is physically enclosed or contained within boundaries. This often applies to gardens, fields, or properties that are fenced off, creating a sense of being 'closed off' from the outside.

Beyond physical spaces, clos/close is also used to describe abstract concepts that are 'closed' in the sense of being concluded, finished, or resolved. For instance, a debate can be clos, a file can be clos, or a chapter can be clos.

As an adjective, clos/close must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. You'll use clos for masculine singular nouns, close for feminine singular nouns, clos (with an 's') for masculine plural, and closes for feminine plural.

While fermé(e) also means 'closed,' it generally refers to something being shut (like a door, window, or store). Clos/close carries a stronger connotation of being enclosed, contained, or concluded, often implying a boundary or finality rather than just a temporary shut-down.

You'll often hear phrases like un jardin clos (an enclosed garden), un débat clos (a closed/concluded debate), or dossier clos (case closed/file closed). These expressions highlight its specific nuance.

💡 * Le jardin est clos par un haut mur. (The garden is enclosed by a high wall.)

• La réunion est close. (The meeting is concluded.)
• Le débat a été déclaré clos. (The debate was declared closed.)
• Ce chapitre de notre vie est désormais clos. (This chapter of our life is now closed.)
• Les portes de la propriété sont closes la nuit. (The property gates are closed at night.)

The 'locked' or 'secured' (e.g., a road, a file) – bouclé/bouclée

The French adjective bouclé/bouclée (pronounced boo-KLAY) refers to something that is 'closed,' 'secured,' 'completed,' or 'finished.' It implies a state of being definitively shut or brought to an end, often in a systematic or thorough way.

Like many French adjectives, bouclé agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. You'll see bouclé for masculine singular nouns, bouclée for feminine singular, bouclés for masculine plural, and bouclées for feminine plural.

One common use of bouclé is to describe a road or an area that is closed off, often for security reasons, construction, or an event. It suggests that access is completely blocked or restricted, more definitively than just fermé (closed).

Beyond physical closure, bouclé is also frequently used to indicate that a task, a project, a file, or a discussion has been completed or wrapped up. It conveys a sense of finality and accomplishment, meaning it's 'finalized' or 'done'.

A popular idiomatic expression is boucler la boucle, which literally means 'to close the loop' or 'to buckle the buckle.' It signifies coming full circle, returning to a starting point, or completing a cycle.

While fermé means 'closed' and verrouillé means 'locked' (with a key), bouclé often implies a more definitive, sometimes temporary but complete, closure or a thorough completion. For instance, a file being bouclé means it's finalized, not just closed.

💡 * La rue est bouclée à cause des travaux. (The street is closed off because of the construction work.)

• Le dossier est enfin bouclé. (The file is finally closed/completed.)
• Nous avons bouclé notre budget pour l'année. (We have finalized our budget for the year.)
• Elle a bouclé ses valises avant de partir. (She finished packing her suitcases before leaving.)
• Avec ce projet, nous bouclons la boucle. (With this project, we are coming full circle.)

The 'locked' (specifically with a lock) – verrouillé/verrouillée

The French adjective verrouillé/verrouillée specifically describes something that is locked with a physical lock or secured by a locking mechanism.

As an adjective, verrouillé (masculine singular) and verrouillée (feminine singular) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The plural forms are verrouillés (masculine plural) and verrouillées (feminine plural).

Its most common usage is to refer to physical objects like doors, windows, gates, or even phones and computers that have been secured with a lock or password-protected to prevent access.

While less common than bloqué for digital contexts, verrouillé can also sometimes be used figuratively to describe an account or system that has been 'locked down' for security reasons, implying a more deliberate and secure form of closure.

💡 * La porte est verrouillée. (The door is locked.)

• Mon téléphone est verrouillé. (My phone is locked.)
• Les fenêtres sont verrouillées. (The windows are locked.)
• Le compte a été verrouillé pour des raisons de sécurité. (The account was locked for security reasons.)

The 'blocked' or 'stopped up' (an opening, a passage) – obturé/obturée

The adjective obturé/obturée describes something that is 'blocked' or 'stopped up,' particularly an opening or a passage.

Derived from the verb obturer (to block, to stop up), obturé/obturée refers to a state where a cavity, conduit, or opening is sealed or obstructed.

This term is commonly found in technical, medical, or more formal contexts rather than casual conversation. Think of a blocked pipe, a sealed tooth cavity, or an obstructed artery.

As an adjective, obturé (masculine singular) or obturée (feminine singular) must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. The plural forms are obturés (masculine plural) and obturées (feminine plural).

You'll often encounter it when discussing dentistry (une dent obturée - a filled tooth), plumbing (une canalisation obturée - a blocked pipe), or even anatomy (une artère obturée - a blocked artery).

Remember to use obturé/obturée when describing a physical blockage or sealing of an aperture, especially in a precise or technical manner.

💡 * La dent a été obturée par le dentiste. (The tooth was filled by the dentist.)

• Les canalisations sont obturées. (The pipes are blocked.)
• Il a une artère obturée. (He has a blocked artery.)
• La porte était obturée par des débris. (The door was blocked by debris.)
• Le passage était complètement obturé. (The passage was completely stopped up.)

The 'sealed' (a letter, a container, an area) – scellé/scellée

The French words scellé (masculine) and scellée (feminine) are the past participle of the verb sceller (to seal). When used as adjectives, they directly translate to “sealed” in English, referring to something that has been closed securely, often with an official or protective measure.

As adjectives, scellé and scellée must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. This means you'll see forms like scellés (masculine plural) and scellées (feminine plural) depending on the context. For example, une porte scellée (a sealed door) or des documents scellés (sealed documents).

These terms are commonly applied to various objects and locations. You might encounter une lettre scellée (a sealed letter), un colis scellé (a sealed package), or un conteneur scellé (a sealed container). They are frequently used to indicate that something has been closed in a way that prevents tampering.

Beyond simple closure, scellé often carries a connotation of officiality, security, or legal protection. For instance, mettre sous scellés means to place under seal, typically by authorities like the police or customs, to preserve evidence or prevent access to a crime scene or confiscated goods.

Understanding the verb sceller (to seal) helps clarify its adjectival forms. It implies the act of closing something definitively, often with a physical seal, wax, tape, or other mechanism, to ensure its integrity or restrict access. Thus, scellé/scellée describes the state resulting from this action.

💡 *La lettre était scellée avec de la cire rouge. (The letter was sealed with red wax.)
*Les policiers ont mis sous scellés la scène de crime. (The police sealed off the crime scene.)
*Le paquet est arrivé scellé, garantissant son intégrité. (The package arrived sealed, guaranteeing its integrity.)
*Chaque flacon est scellé pour des raisons de sécurité. (Each vial is sealed for security reasons.)
*Il a trouvé une enveloppe scellée sur son bureau. (He found a sealed envelope on his desk.)

The 'blocked off' or 'condemned' (a door, an access) – condamné/condamnée

The French word condamné (masculine singular) or condamnée (feminine singular) is an adjective used to describe something that has been declared out of use, sealed off, or deemed unsafe, often referring to physical structures.

In this specific context, condamné/condamnée translates to 'blocked off,' 'sealed up,' or 'condemned.' It's commonly applied to doors, windows, access routes, or even entire buildings that are no longer accessible or fit for use.

As an adjective, condamné/condamnée must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For instance, you would say une porte condamnée (a blocked-off door) and un accès condamné (a blocked-off access).

💡 * La porte de derrière est condamnée depuis des années. (The back door has been blocked off for years.)

• Ils ont déclaré le bâtiment condamné après l'incendie. (They declared the building condemned after the fire.)
• L'accès au grenier a été condamné pour des raisons de sécurité. (Access to the attic was sealed off for safety reasons.)
• Toutes les fenêtres du rez-de-chaussée sont condamnées. (All the ground-floor windows are blocked off.)

The 'barricaded' (an entrance, a street) – barricadé/barricadée

The adjective barricadé (masculine) or barricadée (feminine) describes something that has been barricaded, meaning an entrance, a street, or a building has been blocked off, usually to prevent passage or attack.

It implies an active process of blocking, often with makeshift materials, to create a defensive barrier. Think of a street blocked by cars and debris, or a door reinforced from the inside.

Like all French adjectives, barricadé must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For example, une rue barricadée (a barricaded street) and des entrées barricadées (barricaded entrances).

💡 * La porte était barricadée de l'intérieur. (The door was barricaded from the inside.)

• Les manifestants ont laissé la rue barricadée. (The protestors left the street barricaded.)
• Nous avons trouvé le bâtiment complètement barricadé. (We found the building completely barricaded.)
• Plusieurs entrées ont été barricadées par les habitants. (Several entrances were barricaded by the residents.)

The 'off-limits' or 'forbidden access' (an area, a path) – interdit d'accès

How do you describe something as "off-limits" or "forbidden access" in French, especially for an area or a path? The most common and direct way is with the phrase interdit d'accès.

The phrase interdit d'accès literally translates to "forbidden of access." It combines the past participle interdit (forbidden) from the verb interdire (to forbid) with the prepositional phrase d'accès (of access). This construction clearly indicates that entry or passage is not permitted.

You will most frequently encounter interdit d'accès on signs marking areas where entry is prohibited. This could be on construction sites, private property, dangerous zones, or restricted pathways. It serves as a clear, official warning.

Beyond just physical signs, interdit d'accès can also be used in a broader sense to describe any place, path, or even a digital resource (like a website or file) that is not accessible or is off-limits to certain individuals or the general public. It emphasizes a state of being restricted.

While interdit d'accès is very common, you might also see similar phrases. Accès interdit (access forbidden) carries essentially the same meaning and is often interchangeable, particularly on signs. Another related phrase is Défense d'entrer (Forbidden to enter), which is a direct command.

💡 *Le chemin est interdit d'accès en hiver à cause de la neige. (The path is off-limits in winter because of the snow.)
*Cette zone de chantier est strictement interdite d'accès au public. (This construction site area is strictly forbidden access to the public.)
*Un panneau indiquait "Interdit d'accès" à l'entrée du parc. (A sign indicated "Forbidden Access" at the park entrance.)
*Le dossier personnel de l'employé est interdit d'accès aux autres collègues. (The employee's personal file is forbidden access to other colleagues.)
*Après l'accident, la route a été déclarée interdite d'accès. (After the accident, the road was declared off-limits.)

Are there other ways to say 'closed' in French?

Are there other ways to say “closed” in French?

Our list has covered the primary ways to express “closed” in French, especially fermé and clos. However, the French language is rich with nuances, and there are indeed other expressions depending on the context, formality, or specific meaning you want to convey.

To explore further, you can search online for phrases like “synonymes de fermé” or “comment exprimer fermé en français” to discover more specific or idiomatic uses.

When you encounter new expressions for 'closed,' always check their definitions and observe how they are used in different sentences. Context is key to mastering these subtle distinctions.

As you immerse yourself in French media — reading books, watching films, or listening to podcasts — pay close attention to how 'closed' is expressed. You'll likely encounter variations beyond the most common ones.

For a deeper dive into synonyms and related expressions for fermé and clos, a reliable dictionary like WordReference or Larousse is an excellent starting point. They often provide usage examples that illustrate the subtle differences.

I hope this article has helped you understand the various ways to say 'closed' in French. To conclude, here’s a thought-provoking quote by Anatole France: On n'ouvre pas une porte avec une clé d'or. (One does not open a door with a golden key.) While not directly about 'closed,' it speaks to the idea that some things require more than a simple solution, much like choosing the right word in French.