French Phrase
T'as fermé la porte à clé ?
Meaning
This informal question asks whether the listener locked the door. It uses the spoken contraction "t'as" and the idiomatic expression "fermer à clé" to refer specifically to locking, not just closing.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual conversation with friends, family, or colleagues you know well. It’s too informal for business emails or formal settings, where you’d say "Avez‑vous verrouillé la porte ?".
✦Grammar Breakdown
T'asfermélaporteàclé?
Contraction "T'as"
"T'as" is the spoken contraction of "tu as" used in informal French, especially in spoken questions.
Passé composé with "avoir"
The verb "fermer" forms the passé composé with the auxiliary "avoir": "tu as fermé".
Past participle agreement
When the direct object precedes the verb, the past participle agrees with it; here the object "la porte" follows the verb, so "fermé" stays invariable.
"à clé" idiom
"À clé" means "with a key" and is the standard way to say something is locked.
🗨In Conversation
T'as fermé la porte à clé ?
Did you lock the door?
Oui, je l'ai bien verrouillée.
Yes, I locked it.
✕Common Mistakes
T'as fermée la porte à clé ?
The past participle does not agree because the direct object "la porte" follows the verb.
Tu as fermé la porte à clé ?
In casual spoken French, "t'as" is preferred; using the full form can sound overly formal in this context.
T'as fermé la porte à clef ?
Both "clé" and "clef" are correct, but "clé" is the modern spelling and more common in everyday speech.
↔Alternatives
Tu as verrouillé la porte ?
Did you lock the door?
Vous avez fermé la porte à clé ?
Did you lock the door? (polite/plural)
Est‑ce que la porte est fermée à clé ?
Is the door locked?
Cultural Tip
In everyday French, "fermer à clé" is the most common way to talk about locking a door, while "verrouiller" sounds a bit more formal or technical. The contraction "t'as" is strictly spoken; in writing you would use "tu as". Also, French speakers often add a confirming "bien" (e.g., "Je l'ai bien fermée à clé") to stress that the action was completed correctly.