rolante
/rolante/from spelling rules
The English adjective "rolling" can be translated into Spanish as rolante, rodante or rodadizo.
Meaning: moving by turning over repeatedly (adj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| rolante | /rolante/ (from spelling rules) |
| rodante | /roˈdante/ |
| rodadizo | /rodadiθo/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /rodadiso/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
These terms describe something moving by turning over repeatedly. While they all relate to the concept of rolling, they are used in different contexts. The noun rodadura can be used to refer to the act of rolling or to the tread of a wheel.
Which one should you use?
rodante is the standard adjective used for something that is currently in the act of rolling or is capable of rolling. rolante is a much rarer term, often appearing in technical or archaic contexts. rodadizo is used specifically for something that rotates or rolls, typically within a mechanical or cyclical context.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/rolante/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word for a movie set is rodaje, which comes from the verb rodar. This links the act of filming a scene to the rolling motion of old movie cameras on wheels.
- While English speakers use 'rolling' to describe a landscape of gentle hills, Spanish speakers use ondulado. This word describes the land as being 'waved' rather than rolling.
- To describe the sound of 'rolling thunder', Spanish speakers avoid the words for rolling and instead use retumbar. This word focuses on the deep vibration and echoing resonance of the sound.
Examples in context
- "Una piedra rodante no junta musgo" es un refrán."A rolling stone gathers no moss" is a proverb.This example shows the use of rodante within a common proverb.Tatoeba #180517 by cueyayotl, translation #1503 by CK
- El balón está rodando por el campo.The ball is rolling across the field.
Example conversation
Daniel and Maria are hiking in the mountains.
- DanielMira esa piedra rolante allá arriba.Look at that rolling stone up there.
- MaríaEs peligrosa, Daniel. Aléjate.It is dangerous, Daniel. Get away.
- DanielParece que se detuvo ahora.It seems it stopped now.
- MaríaMejor sigamos caminando rápido.Better we keep walking quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rolling” translations and entries rodante, 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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
