Spanish Conversation · Level 34
75 words
Spanish word
girar
Pronunciation
IPA/xiˈɾaɾ/
Meaning
- verbturn
Example
En la próxima calle, gira a la derecha.
Turn right at the next street.
More examples
Para abrir la puerta, tienes que girar la llave.
To open the door, you have to turn the key.
Core concept
An action of turning a body or making an object spin.
Common phrases
girar a la derecha
turn to the right
girar a la izquierda
turn to the left
girar la llave
turn the key
Similar words
doblar: Turns at a corner on a road or path to change direction.
torcer: Twists a body or object around its axis to change its orientation.
voltear: Quickly turns the face or body to face another direction.
virar: Changes course while steering a vessel or vehicle.
Definition in Spanish
Expresa que algo o alguien cambia de dirección o que se hace girar algo sobre sí mismo.
Word origin
Girar derives from Latin gyrāre and from Greek γύρος gyros 'circle', a root that gave the verb senses 'to revolve' and 'to change direction'.
Usage tips
- When the subject turns itself Spanish often uses the reflexive girarse, whereas making something rotate is frequently expressed with hacer girar or girar plus a direct object.