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"Doblar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to fold", and "torcer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to twist". Learn more about the difference between "doblar" and "torcer" below.
doblar(
doh
-
blahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to crease)
a. to double
Un bebé dobla su tamaño en unos cinco meses.A baby doubles its size in about five months.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
doblarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
6. (to give in)
a. to double
La tasa de natalidad se ha doblado en los últimos diez años.The birth rate has doubled in the last ten years.
torcer(
tohr
-
sehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to contort)
a. to twist
Torció la cuerda para aflojar el agarre de su oponente.He twisted the rope to loosen the grip of his opponent.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
3. (to curve)
a. to turn
Ten cuidado más adelante; el camino tuerce bruscamente a la derecha.Be careful up ahead; the road turns sharply to the right.
torcerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
4. (to injure)
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Me tuerzo a la izquierda al escribir.My handwriting leans to the left.
Arregla ese espejo que se ha torcido.Sort out that mirror because it isn't straight.
a. to go off the rails (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Era un niño muy educado, pero empezó a torcerse cuando fue a la uni.He was a very polite boy, but he started to go off the rails when he went to college.
