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"Girar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to turn", and "torcer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to twist". Learn more about the difference between "girar" and "torcer" below.
girar(
hee
-
rahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to rotate)
2. (finance)
b. to draw
El paciente giró un cheque para pagar la cita.The patient drew a check to pay for the appointment.
3. (to give) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to revolve around
La conferencia gira alrededor de la globalización.The conference revolves around globalization.
5. (to rotate)
a. to turn around
¡Todavía no gires! No he terminado de envolver tu regalo.Don't turn around yet! I haven't finished wrapping your present.
girarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
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.
