rotieren
/ʁoˈtiːʁən/
The English phrase 'spin' can be translated into German as rotieren or schleudern depending on the context.
Meaning: to turn around quickly (verb)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| rotieren | /ʁoˈtiːʁən/ |
| schleudern | /ˈʃlɔɪ̯dɐn/ |
The word is used to describe the act of turning around or rotating.
Which one should you use?
rotieren is used for mechanical rotation or for processes that are rotating/cycling through a system. In contrast, schleudern implies a spinning motion that involves being thrown or flung outward by centrifugal force, such as a spinning top or a washing machine's spin cycle.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁoˈtiːʁən/
Did you know?
- The word schleudern shares a distant linguistic ancestor with the English word 'slumber', both tracing back to ideas of being 'loose' or 'slack'.
- In German sports terminology, a Schleudertrauma is the medical term for whiplash. It describes the specific 'spinning' or flinging motion of the neck during an accident.
- When describing a fast-moving, spinning object that is slightly unstable, Germans often use the word taumeln, which can also mean 'to stagger' or 'to totter'.
Examples in context
- Die Erde macht eine Drehung um ihre Achse.The Earth spins around its axis.
- Sie hat sich schnell umgedreht.She quickly spun around.
- Der Propeller dreht sich schnell.The propeller is spinning fast.
- Die Tänzerin wirbelte elegant über die Bühne.The dancer spun elegantly across the stage.
- Ich drehe den Kreisel.I spin the spinning top.
- Der Windmühlenflügel rotiert im Wind.The windmill blade rotates in the wind.
- Der Sturm wirbelt das Laub durch die Luft.The storm whirls the leaves through the air.
- Die Figuren rotieren schnell auf dem Teller.The figures rotate quickly on the plate.
- Die bunten Windräder rotieren im Wind.The colorful pinwheels rotate in the wind.
Example conversation
Julia and Lukas are watching a small science experiment in a park.
- JuliaSchau mal, Lukas, die kleinen Räder rotieren!Look, Lukas, the little wheels are rotating!
- LukasJa, sie rotieren wirklich sehr schnell.Yes, they are really rotating very quickly.
- JuliaKannst du sie noch schneller rotieren lassen?Can you make them rotate even faster?
- LukasIch versuche es mal mit mehr Druck.I will try it with more pressure.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spin” translations and entries rotieren, schleudern, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rotieren, schleudern, CC BY-SA 4.0.
