darse la vuelta
/daɾse la bwelta/from spelling rules
The English phrase "roll over" can be translated into Spanish as darse la vuelta or volcar.
Meaning: to make a rolling motion or turn (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| darse la vuelta | /daɾse la bwelta/ (from spelling rules) |
| volcar | /bolˈkaɾ/ |
In Spanish, the translation depends on whether you are describing a person or animal making a rolling motion or an object flipping over.
Which one should you use?
Use darse la vuelta when a person or animal performs a rolling or turning motion, such as turning over in bed. Use volcar when an object or vehicle flips over or overturns.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because darse la vuelta is a reflexive phrase, the pronoun must change to match the subject (me, te, se, nos, os, se).
Did you know?
- In a digital context, volcar is sometimes used to describe 'dumping' data from one storage device to another.
- The word vuelta is also the standard word for a 'lap' in sports, such as when running laps around a track.
- The verb volcar shares the same ancient ancestor as the English word 'voluble', which describes someone who speaks easily or changes easily.
Examples in context
- Puedes voltearte, por favor?Can you roll over, please?
Example conversation
Elena is teaching Javier's puppy a new trick.
- ElenaMira, Javier, el perro puede darse la vuelta.Look, Javier, the dog can roll over.
- Javier¡Es increíble! ¿Cómo lo hiciste?That's amazing! How did you do it?
- ElenaLe dije que se diera la vuelta.I told him to roll over.
- JavierEs muy inteligente.He is very intelligent.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “roll over” translations and entries volcar, 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 la, volcar, vuelta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
