French Phrase
Ferme toutes les portes et fenêtres à clé.
Meaning
Literally, ‘Close all the doors and windows with a key.’ In everyday French it means ‘Lock every door and window.’ The phrase is a direct command, often used when leaving a house, apartment, or office.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want someone to secure a place before departing – for example, before going on vacation, leaving the house for work, or when a landlord asks tenants to ensure the property is locked.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Fermetouteslesportesetfenêtresàclé
Imperative (2nd pers. sing.)
‘Ferme’ is the informal singular imperative of the verb ‘fermer’ (to close/lock).
Quantifier ‘toutes’
‘toutes’ agrees in gender and number with the plural feminine noun ‘portes’ and also covers ‘fenêtres’.
Preposition ‘à’ + noun
‘à clé’ is an idiomatic expression meaning ‘with a key / locked’. It does not translate literally as ‘to key’.
Conjunction ‘et’
Links two nouns of the same gender (both feminine) without repeating the article.
🗨In Conversation
Ferme toutes les portes et fenêtres à clé avant de partir, s'il te plaît.
Lock all the doors and windows before you leave, please.
Pas de problème, je m'en occupe tout de suite.
No problem, I’ll take care of it right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Fermez toutes les portes et fenêtres à clé.
‘Fermez’ is the formal/plural imperative; use it only when speaking to strangers or a group.
Ferme toute les portes et fenêtres à clé.
‘Toute’ is singular; the sentence refers to multiple doors and windows, so ‘toutes’ is required.
Ferme toutes les portes et fenêtres avec la clé.
The idiomatic expression is ‘à clé’; ‘avec la clé’ sounds unnatural in this context.
↔Alternatives
Verrouille toutes les portes et fenêtres.
Lock all the doors and windows.
Ferme les portes et les fenêtres.
Close the doors and windows.
Assure-toi que toutes les ouvertures sont fermées à clé.
Make sure all openings are locked.
Cultural Tip
In France, especially in apartment buildings, it is customary to lock both doors and windows before leaving, even for short trips. The expression ‘à clé’ is very common in spoken French; however, in more formal writing you might see ‘verrouillé(e)’. Also, note that the informal imperative ‘Ferme’ is used with friends, family, or colleagues you know well; with strangers or superiors you would use the polite form ‘Fermez’.