Ways to say it
| Ukrainian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| повертати | povertaty | [pɔʋerˈtate] (narrow) |
| обертати | obertaty | [ɔberˈtate] (narrow) |
The verb is used to describe changing direction or orientation, especially through rotation. Related to this concept is the noun поворо́т, which means a change of direction or orientation and the noun че́рга or черга́, which refers to a chance to use (something) shared in sequence with others (noun).
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between the two main forms based on the type of movement: повертати is used for changing direction or returning to a place, while обертати is used specifically for the physical act of rotating or spinning an object around an axis, such as spinning a wheel.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The perfective form повернути is used when referring to a single, completed action of turning, such as 'to turn the key' or 'to turn the corner'. The reflexive form повертатися is used when the subject is turning itself or returning to a previous state or location.
How do you pronounce it?
povertaty
Did you know?
- The Ukrainian root верт in повертати is a distant relative of the English word 'vertigo', which describes a spinning sensation.
- The Ukrainian word for 'to turn' or 'to return', повертати, shares a root with the English word 'vertical' through the Proto-Indo-European root for 'turning' or 'to wind'.
- Because повертати can mean 'to return', telling someone to 'turn' in a car might be interpreted as telling them to 'go back' if the context is not clear.
Examples in context
- Не турбуйся. Я скажу тобі, коли повертати.Don't worry. I'll let you know when to turn.This sentence is useful for letting someone know when it is time to turn.Tatoeba #7979095 by deniko, translation #3098906 by CK
- Я не могла, у жодному віці, бути задоволеною сидінням біля комину та спогляданням. Життя повинне бути прожитим. Цікавість має лишатися живою. У жодному разі не потрібно повертатися до життя спиною.I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.This sentence uses the form повертати to describe the metaphorical act of turning one's back on life.Tatoeba #9473796 by Ahha, translation #6918571 by Adelpa
- Поверніть ліворуч після перехрестя.Please turn left after the intersection.
- Зверніть увагу на наступний параграф.Please turn your attention to the next paragraph.
- Будь ласка, оберніться до документа.Please turn to the document.
- Поверни вліво на наступному перехресті.Turn left at the next intersection.
- Обернись і подивись, хто входить.Turn around and see who is coming in.
- Вам потрібно повертати ключ праворуч.Vam potribno povernaty klyuch pravoruch.You need to turn the key to the right.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Serhii is helping Iryna with a piece of furniture.
- Сергій SerhiiІрино, допоможи мені повертати цей стіл.Irino, dopomozy meni povertaty tsei stil.Iryna, help me turn this table.
- Ірина IrynaЗвісно, куди саме його треба повернути?Zvisno, kudy same yoho treba povernuty?Of course, where exactly should it be turned?
- Сергій SerhiiПовертай його праворуч, будь ласка.Povertay yoho pravoruch, bud laska.Turn it to the right, please.
- Ірина IrynaГотово, тепер він стоїть правильно.Hoto, teper vin stoyit pravylno.Done, now it is standing correctly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn” translations and entries повертати, обертати, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries обертати, повертати, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
