Cerraron la puerta definitivamente.

Cerraron is the 3rd person plural preterite of cerrar.

So it can mean:

• they closed
• you all closed (with ustedes)

The preterite is used for a completed action in the past, so cerraron means closed rather than were closing or used to close.

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

In cerraron, the -aron ending tells you it is they or you all.

So Spanish can simply say:

• Cerraron la puerta definitivamente.

instead of:

• Ellos cerraron la puerta definitivamente.

Adding ellos is possible, but it is usually only done for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

Yes, grammatically it could.

Cerraron can refer to:

• ellos / ellas = they
• ustedes = you all

In Spain, ustedes is mainly used in formal situations, while vosotros is the usual informal plural you. So without more context, a learner will often understand cerraron here as they closed.

If the speaker meant informal you all in Spain, it would normally be:

• Cerrasteis la puerta definitivamente.

Because la puerta is a specific direct object: the door.

Spanish often uses the definite article much more naturally than English does. In this sentence, we are talking about a particular door, so la is expected.

• la puerta = the door

Saying just puerta here would sound incomplete.

The preterite is used because the action is seen as completed.

• Cerraron la puerta definitivamente = they closed the door, and that action is finished.

If you used the imperfect, it would suggest something more ongoing, habitual, or descriptive, which does not fit as well here.

For example:

• Cerraban la puerta could mean they used to close the door or they were closing the door

But cerraron gives the idea of one completed event.

Not exactly.

In this sentence, definitivamente usually means something like:

• definitively
• for good
• permanently

So Cerraron la puerta definitivamente is closer to:

• They closed the door for good
• They shut the door permanently

In other contexts, definitivamente can sometimes mean something close to English definitely, but here it has the stronger sense of finally and permanently, not just certainly.

Yes. Spanish adverbs are often flexible in position.

You could also say:

• Definitivamente cerraron la puerta.
• Cerraron definitivamente la puerta.
• Cerraron la puerta definitivamente.

All are possible, but the most neutral version here is the original one.

The position can slightly change the emphasis, but not the basic meaning.

The structure is:

• Cerraron = verb
• la puerta = direct object
• definitivamente = adverb

So the full pattern is roughly:

• [Verb] + [Object] + [Adverb]

Because the subject is omitted, the sentence begins directly with the verb. This is very common in Spanish.

Not exactly.

Cerrar usually means:

• to close
• to shut

So cerraron la puerta means they closed/shut the door.

If you want to say lock the door, Spanish often uses:

• cerrar con llave = to lock
• echar la llave = to lock / to turn the key (common in some contexts)

So cerraron la puerta definitivamente does not automatically mean they locked it.

It is pronounced roughly like:

• seh-RRA-ron

A few key points:

• The stress is on RRA
• The rr is a strong rolled/trilled r
• The final -on is pronounced like ohn, not like English on in all accents

Since cerrar contains rr, learners often need to practise that trill.

It comes from the adjective definitivo / definitiva plus -mente, which is a very common way to form adverbs in Spanish.

• definitiva
  • -mente → definitivamente

This is similar to how English often forms adverbs with -ly.

Other examples:

• rápida → rápidamente
• clara → claramente

So definitivamente is an adverb describing how the action was done: they closed the door permanently / for good.