Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| враща́ть | vraščátʹ | imperfective |
| верте́ть | vertétʹ | imperfective |
| повора́чивать | povoráčivatʹ | imperfective |
| поверну́ть | povernútʹ | perfective |
| крути́ть | krutítʹ | imperfective |
The verbs in this group are used to express changing the direction or orientation of something, particularly through rotation. If you are referring to a change of direction or orientation as a noun, use поворо́т. If you mean a turn as a chance to use something shared in sequence with others, use ход or о́чередь.
Which one should you use?
The different Russian forms are used for specific types of turning. Use враща́ть for the mechanical or technical rotation of an object around an axis. Use верте́ть to imply spinning or twirling something around aimlessly, or when speaking figuratively to mean 'to mess with' or 'to manipulate'. Use повора́чивать to describe the process of changing the orientation or direction of an object. Finally, use поверну́ть to describe a single, completed action of turning something to a new position.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form поверну́ть is the perfective form, which is used when the focus is on the result of the turn being completed.
How do you pronounce it?
vraščátʹ
Did you know?
- The verb крути́ть is used to describe the action of winding a clock or a toy, but it also means 'to flirt' when used in the phrase крути́ть рома́н.
- In a culinary context, крути́ть is the specific verb used for the process of grinding meat through a mincer, where the handle is turned.
- The verb крути́ть is used to describe the action of playing a record or a movie on a loop, which is why a cinema is sometimes described as крути́ть a film.
Examples in context
- Извините, где можно сделать поворот?Excuse me, where can I make a turn?
- Поверни налево на следующем светофоре.Turn left at the next traffic light.
- Она сделала правый поворот.She made a right turn.
- Продолжайте прямо, затем сделайте левый поворот на улицу Ленина.Continue straight, then make a left turn onto Lenin Street.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
