Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| крутить | krutitʹ | [krʊˈtʲitʲ] (narrow) | imperfective |
| верте́ться | vertétʹsja | imperfective | |
| крути́ться | krutítʹsja | imperfective | |
| враща́ться | vraščátʹsja | imperfective | |
| вертеть | vertetʹ | [vʲɪrˈtʲetʲ] (narrow) | imperfective |
| вращать | vraščatʹ | [vrɐˈɕːætʲ] (narrow) | imperfective |
The verbs in this group are used to describe the act of turning around quickly or causing something to rotate.
Which one should you use?
Russian distinguishes between spinning an object (transitive) and spinning oneself (reflexive). Use the transitive forms крутить and вращать when you are spinning an object. Use the reflexive forms крутиться, вращаться and вертеться when the subject itself is spinning or rotating on its own axis. Specifically, вращаться is used for formal or scientific contexts, such as celestial bodies or mechanical parts, while вертеться often implies a restless spinning or fidgeting rather than smooth rotation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
All the forms provided are imperfective, which means they are used to describe ongoing, continuous or habitual actions rather than a single, completed spin.
How do you pronounce it?
krutitʹ
Did you know?
- If you are told to крутиться in a professional setting, it might not mean to physically spin, but rather to 'hustle' or find ways to make money through various schemes.
- The root of вертеть is shared with the English word 'vertigo', which describes the sensation of spinning.
- In Russian slang, the verb крутить can be used to describe the act of rolling a cigarette or a joint.
Examples in context
- Что заставляет Землю вращаться?What makes the earth spin?This sentence is useful for asking about the rotation of the earth using вращать.Tatoeba #2875356 by odexed, translation #2877179 by AlanF_US
- Ты можешь крутить баскетбольный мяч на пальце?Can you spin a basketball on your fingertip?This sentence shows how to use крутить to describe spinning an object on a fingertip.Tatoeba #3673510 by sharptoothed, translation #712971 by darinmex
- Когда я была маленькой, у меня была юла. Я обожала вращать её и смотреть, ожидая, когда она остановится.When I was little, I had a top. I loved to spin it and watch it, waiting for it to stop.This sentence illustrates the use of вращать in the context of spinning a toy top.Tatoeba #6964263 by odexed, translation #9324593 by AlanF_US
- Устройство производит постоянное вращение.The device performs constant rotation.
- Мальчик начал крутить волчок по улице.The boy started spinning a top down the street.
Example conversation
Alexander and Olga are at a playground with a merry-go-round.
- Александр AleksandrНе стоит так сильно крутить карусель.Ne stoit tak sil'no krutit' karusel'.You shouldn't spin the merry-go-round so hard.
- Ольга OlgaНо мне так весело!No mne tak veselo!But it is so much fun!
- Александр AleksandrОльга, ты можешь упасть.Ol'ga, ty mozhesh' upast'.Olga, you might fall.
- Ольга OlgaХорошо, я буду медленнее крутить.Khorosho, ya budu medlenneye krutit'.Okay, I will spin it more slowly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spin” translations and entries крутить, вертеть, вращать, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries вертеть, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
