rular
/ruˈlaɾ/
To roll in Spanish is to rular. Wiktionary also lists rodar and rolar.
Meaning: to turn over and over (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| rular | /ruˈlaɾ/ |
| rodar | /roˈdaɾ/ |
| rolar | /roˈlaɾ/ |
| ructar | /ruɡtaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| ronchar | /ront͡ʃaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| arrodear | /arodeaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
The verb means to turn over and over. You can use the idiom rodar cabezas to express that people will be held accountable or punished, which is equivalent to the English expression 'heads will roll'. To express the concept of a 'role', use the word papel.
Which one should you use?
Use rodar when describing an object moving by turning over and over, such as a ball or a wheel.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ruˈlaɾ/
Did you know?
- In the film industry, rodar is the standard verb for 'to film' or 'to shoot' a movie.
- The verb rular, which comes from the French 'rouler', is often used in slang to describe things that are 'cool' or 'working' in certain urban dialects.
- The Spanish word rodar is a direct 'cousin' to the English word 'rotate', both tracing back to the Latin 'rotare'.
Examples in context
- ¡Si no obtengo mi billetera de vuelta para mañana, van a rodar cabezas!If I don't get my wallet back by tomorrow, heads will roll!This sentence demonstrates the idiomatic use of rodar in the phrase 'heads will roll'.Tatoeba #1811520 by marcelostockle, translation #535240 by kebukebu
- Me comí un panecillo para el desayuno.I ate a roll for breakfast.
- El balón rodó cuesta abajo a gran velocidad.The ball rolled downhill at high speed.
- La pelota giró hasta detenerse.The ball rolled until it stopped.
- Mi papel en la obra es muy importante.My role in the play is very important.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are watching a ball move.
- AlejandroMira cómo comienza a rular la pelota.Look how the ball starts to roll.
- MaríaSí, va muy rápido hacia el jardín.Yes, it is going very fast toward the garden.
- AlejandroVa a rular hasta el final de la calle.It is going to roll to the end of the street.
- MaríaTengo que ir a buscarla ahora.I have to go get it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “roll” translations and entries rular, rodar, rolar, 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 rodar, rular, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
