Italian Phrase
Hai chiuso la porta a chiave?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether the listener locked the door. It implies a concern for security or privacy and is usually spoken right after someone leaves a room, a house, or an office.
When to use
Use this question when you want to confirm that a door has been locked, for example before going out, after a meeting, or when checking if a child has secured a bedroom door.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Haichiusolaportaachiave
Hai (avere)
Second‑person singular present of the auxiliary verb *avere*, used to form the passato prossimo.
chiuso (past participle)
Past participle of *chiudere*; agrees in gender/number only when *essere* is the auxiliary, but with *avere* it stays unchanged.
a chiave
Fixed prepositional phrase meaning ‘with a key’; the correct preposition is *a*, not *con*.
Passato prossimo
A compound past tense formed with *avere* + past participle, used for actions completed in the recent past.
🗨In Conversation
Hai chiuso la porta a chiave?
Did you lock the door?
Sì, l’ho chiusa proprio adesso.
Yes, I just locked it.
✕Common Mistakes
Hai chiuso la porta con chiave?
The correct preposition is *a*; *con chiave* sounds unnatural.
Hai serrato la porta con chiave?
While *serrare* can mean ‘to bolt’, the standard phrase for locking a door is *chiudere a chiave*.
↔Alternatives
Hai chiuso a chiave la porta?
Did you lock the door?
Hai chiuso la porta?
Did you close the door?
Hai messo la porta a chiave?
Did you put the door on a key?
Hai serrato la porta a chiave?
Did you bolt the door with a key?
Cultural Tip
In Italy, locking doors is a routine part of daily life, especially in apartments where many families share a building. The phrase *chiudere a chiave* is also used for cabinets, lockers, and even bike racks. Keep in mind that the tone can be more urgent in a security‑sensitive context (e.g., a hotel room) and more casual among family members.