doblar
/doˈblaɾ/
To bend in Spanish is doblar. Wiktionary also lists cimbrar and cimbrear.
Meaning: to cause to shape into a curve (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| doblar | /doˈblaɾ/ |
| cimbrar | /θimˈbɾaɾ/ /simˈbɾaɾ/ |
| cimbrear | /θimbɾeˈaɾ/ /simbɾeˈaɾ/ |
| cimblar | /θimblaɾ/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /simblaɾ/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
| doblegar | /dobleˈɡaɾ/ |
| redoblegar | /redobleɡaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
The verb doblar is commonly used to describe the physical act of bending an object or folding things such as paper or clothes. To express the concept of something bending itself or being bent, such as a piece of metal or a human body, you should use the reflexive form doblarse. When referring specifically to the bending of joints or muscles, the formal term flexionar is often used.
Which one should you use?
While doblar refers to the physical act of bending or folding, doblegar is used figuratively to mean bending someone's will or forcing them to submit. The word redoblegar is a related form in this context.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/doˈblaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb doblar can also mean 'to turn' when giving directions. If someone says dobla a la derecha, they are not asking you to bend the street, but to turn right.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, doblar can mean 'to double' a quantity or to work a double shift.
- The verb doblegar actually traces its roots back to Catalan rather than Old Spanish. It likely entered the Spanish language through the intermediate form doblegar used in the 15th century.
Examples in context
- Antes doblar que quebrar.It's better to bend than to break.This sentence uses doblar to illustrate a comparison between bending and breaking.Tatoeba #1696510 by termito2nd, translation #10218116 by megamanenm
- No puedo doblar el brazo derecho.I can't bend my right arm.This sentence uses doblar to describe the inability to bend a body part.Tatoeba #10111190 by manufrutos, translation #27048 by CK
- No nos doblegaremos a la voluntad de un tirano.We will not bend to the will of a tyrant.This sentence uses doblegar to describe refusing to submit to a person in power.Tatoeba #1630638 by teskmon, translation #22664 by shekitten
- Doblar una hoja de papelTo bend a piece of paper
- Doblar a la izquierdaTo turn left
- Flexionar el brazoTo bend the arm
- Inclinar la cabezaTo tilt/bend the head
- Inclina la botella para verter el líquidoTilt the bottle to pour the liquid
- Doblar una esquinaTo take/hit a corner (while driving)
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are working on a craft project in a workshop.
- ElenaJavier, ¿puedes ayudarme a doblar este tubo?Javier, can you help me bend this tube?
- JavierClaro, Elena, pero el tubo es muy duro.Sure, Elena, but the tube is very hard.
- ElenaNecesito doblar el tubo para completar la estructura.I need to bend the tube to complete the structure.
- JavierUsemos la máquina para doblar el metal fácilmente.Let's use the machine to bend the metal easily.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bend” translations and entries doblar, cimbrar, cimbrear, doblegar, 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 doblegar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
