Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA |
|---|---|
| girare | /d͡ʒiˈra.re/ |
| invertire | /in.verˈti.re/ |
| cambiare | /kamˈbja.re/ |
| svoltare | /zvolˈta.re/ |
Use girare to describe rotating something or changing orientation. Use svoltare specifically when talking about turning a corner or changing direction while walking or driving. If you mean 'to turn' in the sense of reversing or inverting the order or direction of something, use invertire. If 'turn' means to change state or become something else, such as 'the weather turned bad', use cambiare.
Which one should you use?
While girare can mean to rotate or turn, svoltare is specifically used when talking about turning a corner or changing direction while driving or walking. Invertire is used when 'turn' means to reverse the order or the direction of something, rather than rotating it.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
girare is an informal form.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When using girare to mean 'to turn around' (one's self), it is often used reflexively as girarsi.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of girare is /dʒiˈra.re/. It has 3 syllables, and the stress is on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- While girare means 'to turn', it is also the common Italian term for 'filming' a movie or a scene.
- When someone is 'turning' a conversation or a situation around to their advantage, Italians use the verb svoltare.
- In Italian, girare is used to describe the act of 'stirring' a pot or a drink.
Examples in context
- L'acqua fa girare la ruota.The water makes the wheel turn.This sentence is useful for showing how water makes a wheel girare.Tatoeba #13074168 by Guybrush88, translation #9152673 by Hybrid
- Ho detto di girare a destra.I said turn right.This sentence is useful for expressing the intent to girare right.Tatoeba #5349691 by Guybrush88, translation #2405912 by CK
- Ti ordino di girare a destra.I order you to turn right.This sentence is useful for commanding someone to girare right.Tatoeba #935282 by Guybrush88, translation #22314 by CK
- Puoi voltare a destra al prossimo incrocio?Can you turn right at the next intersection?
- Facciamo una svolta a destra quiLet's make a turn to the right here
- Imbocchiamo questa strada a destraLet's take this road to the right
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Francesco and Giulia are looking at a map together.
- FrancescoDevi girare la mappa per vedere meglio.You have to turn the map to see better.
- GiuliaHai ragione, adesso è più chiaro.You're right, now it's clearer.
- FrancescoProva a girare anche il telefono.Try to turn the phone too.
- GiuliaFatto, ora vediamo dove siamo.Done, now we see where we are.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn” translations and entries girare, invertire, cambiare, svoltare, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
