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"Encerrado" is a form of "encerrado", an adjective which is often translated as "shut in". "Confinado" is a form of "confinar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to confine". Learn more about the difference between "encerrado" and "confinado" below.
encerrado(
ehn
-
seh
-
rrah
-
doh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (confined)
a. shut in
Llevamos alimentos a personas que viven encerradas en sus casas por edad o enfermedad.We deliver meals to people who are shut in at home due to age or illnesses.
b. shut up
No es sano que estés siempre encerrado en este cuarto. ¡Necesitas salir al aire libre!It's unhealthy to be shut up in this room all the time. You need some fresh air!
c. shut away
Esos monjes viven encerrados en su convento, apartados del resto del mundo.Those monks live shut away in their monastery, keeping apart from the rest of the world.
2. (jailed)
a. locked up
Estudió una carrera mientras estuvo encerrado en la cárcel.He completed his degree while he was locked up in jail.
3. (trapped)
a. locked in
Se dañó la chapa de la puerta y nos quedamos encerrados hasta que llegó el cerrajero.The doorknob broke, and we were locked in until the locksmith came.
b. enclosed
Al ganado encerrado en este corral se le permite salir a pastar todos los días.The cattle enclosed in this pen are allowed to roam and graze every day.
confinar(
kohm
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fee
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nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to confine
En esta horrible cárcel, confinan a presos en celdas minúsculas.In this dreadful prison, prisoners are confined in tiny cells.
2. (to exile)
a. to banish
El dictador confinó del país a los poetas más revolucionarios.The most revolutionary poets were banished from the country by the dictator.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to border
El país confina con el Mar Rojo por el oeste.The country borders the Red Sea to the west.
confinarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to shut oneself away
Marcos se confinó en su habitación y no dejó entrar a nadie durante dos días.Marcos shut himself away in his room and didn't let anyone in for two days.
