abierta

Abierta is the feminine singular form of the past participle of abrir, the Spanish verb meaning to open. As a participle and adjective, abierta denotes a state of openness and agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (for example, una puerta abierta; ventanas abiertas). The masculine singular form is abierto; the plural forms are abiertos (masculine) and abiertas (feminine).

Usage of abierta covers both physical openness and figurative accessibility. With physical objects, abierta describes something that has been opened or left open: La puerta está abierta, Las ventanas están abiertas. Figuratively, it is used to indicate accessibility or lack of restrictions: fronteras abiertas (open borders), oportunidades abiertas (open opportunities), un mercado abierto (an open market). The expression abierta de par en par emphasizes something being fully open.

Grammatical notes include that abierta agrees with a feminine subject, and appears in constructions with estar to describe a current state, or in passive or descriptive contexts where the subject is feminine. For masculine subjects, the corresponding form is abierto, and for plural subjects the forms are abiertos (masculine) or abiertas (feminine).

Etymology and related terms: abierta derives from abrir, the root of several related forms. The masculine counterpart is abierto; feminine plural abiertas, masculine plural abiertos. In related Romance languages, cognates include aberta/ouverte/aperta, reflecting the same root concept of “open.”