voltereta hacia atrás
/bolteɾeta aθja atɾas/from spelling rulesfeminine
The English phrase "backflip" is translated into Spanish as voltereta hacia atrás. Wiktionary also lists backflip.
Meaning: an act of rotating one's body (noun)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| voltereta hacia atrás | /bolteɾeta aθja atɾas/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /bolteɾeta asja atɾas/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
feminine |
| backflip | /ˈbaɡflip/ /baɡˈflip/ |
masculine |
The term refers to an act of rotating one's body.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase voltereta hacia atrás is composed of voltereta (somersault/flip), hacia (towards) and atrás (back/behind).
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase plural, you change the noun 'voltereta' to 'volteretas'.
How do you pronounce it?
/bolteɾeta aθja atɾas/
Did you know?
- The word hacia comes from the Latin phrase faciem ad, which literally means 'facing towards' the face.
- The word voltereta uses the diminutive suffix -eta to describe a rotation, which can sometimes make the movement sound smaller or more playful than a standard 'somersault'.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, a voltereta can refer to any rolling movement, even a simple log roll, rather than just a gymnastic flip.
Examples in context
- Durante el espectáculo de gimnasia, el atleta realizó un impresionante salto mortal hacia atrás.During the gymnastics show, the athlete performed an impressive backflip.
- El niño sorprendió a todos con su precisa vuelta mortal hacia atrás.The boy surprised everyone with his precise backflip.
- ¡Mira lo que puedo hacer! ¡Voy a intentar una voltereta hacia atrás!Look what I can do! I'm going to try a backflip!
- ¡Ese trampolinista acaba de hacer un increíble salto de carpa!That trampolinist just performed an amazing backflip!
- Hizo una voltereta hacia atrás en la piscina.He/she did a backflip in the pool.
- Ella hizo una voltereta hacia atrás perfecta.She did a perfect backflip.
- No puedo hacer una voltereta hacia atrás.I cannot do a backflip.
- El gimnasta realizó una voltereta hacia atrás impresionante.The gymnast performed an impressive backflip.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are watching a gymnastics practice at the park.
- Elena¡Mira esa voltereta hacia atrás!Look at that backflip!
- JavierEs increíble, Elena.It is incredible, Elena.
- Elena¿Crees que Javier pueda hacerla?Do you think Javier can do it?
- JavierNo, es muy difícil para él.No, it is very difficult for him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “backflip” translations and entries backflip, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries atrás, backflip, hacia, voltereta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
