dar(se) vuelta
la
To turn around in Spanish is to say dar(se) vuelta (la). Wiktionary also lists voltear.
Meaning: intransitive: to physically rotate horizontally 180 degrees (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| dar(se) vuelta | la | |
| voltear | /bolteˈaɾ/ |
The phrase is used when someone or something physically rotates 180 degrees. Depending on the context, it can refer to a person turning their body, a vehicle making a U-turn or moving around a corner or a loop.
Which one should you use?
While dar(se) vuelta is used for rotation, voltear is more commonly used when referring to flipping an object over, such as a pancake or a piece of paper, rather than a person rotating their body. Additionally, dar la vuelta can also mean to go around a corner or to take a detour or a loop, rather than just a 180-degree rotation.
How does it change in a sentence?
When a person turns their own body around, the reflexive form darse la vuelta is used. For a car or vehicle making a U-turn or turning around, you use dar la vuelta.
How do you pronounce it?
la
Did you know?
- The English word 'volt' in 'voltage' and the Spanish word vuelta both stem from the same Latin root meaning to roll or turn.
- While darse la vuelta means to turn around, the slightly different dar una vuelta often means to go for a stroll or a walk.
- Be careful with the reflexive darse la vuelta, as in certain slang contexts in some regions, it can be used to describe someone changing their opinion or 'turning' on a person.
Examples in context
- Por favor, den la vueltaPlease, turn around
- Dame un momento, me voy a dar la vuelta para verteGive me a moment, I'm going to turn around to see you
- Voltea y mira lo que está sucediendoTurn around and look at what's happening
- Gira y vuelve a la tiendaTurn around and go back to the shop
- ¡Voltea y mira lo que he encontrado!Turn around and look at what I found!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn around” translations and entries voltear, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries voltear, vuelta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
