Italian Phrase
Sì, ho chiuso a chiave la porta d'ingresso.
Meaning
The sentence means “Yes, I locked the front door.” It confirms that the speaker has secured the entrance by using a key, not merely closed it.
When to use
Use this reply when someone asks if you have secured the house, apartment, or any place with a main entrance. It’s common in everyday conversation, especially when you’re leaving a home or checking that everything is safe.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Sìhochiusoachiavelaportad'ingresso
Affirmation (Sì)
Sì is the standard way to say “yes” in Italian, used to confirm or agree.
Passato Prossimo (ho chiuso)
The verb chiudere (to close/lock) forms the passato prossimo with the auxiliary avere: ho chiuso = I have closed/locked.
Prepositional Phrase (a chiave)
A chiave literally means “with a key” and follows the verb to indicate the manner of closing.
Noun Phrase (la porta d'ingresso)
Porta d'ingresso = “entrance door”. The preposition di contracts to d' before a vowel.
Word Order
In Italian the adverbial phrase a chiave normally comes right after the verb, before the direct object.
🗨In Conversation
Hai chiuso la porta d'ingresso?
Did you lock the front door?
Sì, ho chiuso a chiave la porta d'ingresso.
Yes, I locked the front door.
✕Common Mistakes
Sì, ho chiusa a chiave la porta d'ingresso.
The auxiliary ho requires the past participle chiuso (masculine singular) because the subject is “io”. Using chiusa would be grammatically incorrect.
Sì, ho serrato a chiave la porta d'ingresso.
Serrato means “shut” but does not convey the idea of locking with a key. Use chiuso a chiave for the intended meaning.
Sì, ho chiuso a chiave la porta d' ingresso.
Do not insert a space after the apostrophe; the contraction d' is attached directly to the following word.
↔Alternatives
Sì, ho chiuso a chiave l'ingresso.
Yes, I locked the entrance.
Sì, ho chiuso la porta d'ingresso con la chiave.
Yes, I locked the front door with the key.
Sì, la porta d'ingresso è chiusa a chiave.
Yes, the front door is locked.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, the front door (porta d'ingresso) is often the main point of security for a home or apartment building. Italians usually say “chiusa a chiave” to stress that a door is not just shut but actually locked. In some regions, especially in older towns, you might also hear “serrata” used colloquially, but “chiusa a chiave” is the standard, neutral expression.