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"Turn" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "girar", and "twist" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "girar". Learn more about the difference between "turn" and "twist" below.
turn(
tuhrn
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to rotate)
a. girar
I turned the steering wheel sharply to avoid the dog.Giré el volante bruscamente para evitar el perro.
2. (to direct)
a. dirigir
He turned his attention to the letter in front of him.Dirigió su atención a la carta delante de él.
She turned her anger on her son.Dirigió su ira hacia su hijo.
a. volver (head, eyes, gaze)
We turned our gaze to the place where the sound came from.Volvimos la mirada hacia el lugar de donde provino el sonido.
a. dar la vuelta a
Please turn the page and answer the questionnaire.Por favor dale vuelta a la hoja y contesta el cuestionario.
You should turn your mattress so that both sides are used.Debes darle vuelta a tu colchón para que se usen los dos lados.
5. (to perform)
7. (to pass)
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
It just turned midnight.Acaba de hacerse medianoche.
It's just turned 2 o'clock here. What's the time there?Aquí acaban de dar las dos. ¿Qué hora es ahí?
8. (to change)
a. convertir
Scientists figured out how to turn solar energy into electricity.Los científicos encontraron la manera de convertir la energía solar en electricidad.
9. (to put)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Many people were turned out of their homes.Echaron a muchas personas de sus casas.
Turn the mixture into the pan and bake for 20 minutes.Vierta la mezcla en la olla y hornee durante 20 minutos.
10. (to make)
11. (to twist)
a. torcerse (ankle, wrist)
Ken turned his ankle during the soccer game.Ken se torció el tobillo durante el partido de fútbol.
12. (to shape)
a. tornear (on a lathe)
He turned a block of wood into a baseball bat on the lathe.Torneó un bloque de madera a un bate de béisbol en el torno.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
14. (to rotate)
b. dar vueltas
The disc turns at 2,000 revolutions a minute.El disco da vueltas a 2,000 revoluciones por minuto.
15. (to change)
b. cambiar
Investors are waiting for their luck to turn.Los inversores están esperando que cambie su suerte.
16. (to become)
a. ponerse
Emma turned pale and then fainted.Emma se puso pálida y luego se desmayó.
She turns red when she's embarrassed.Ella se pone roja cuando le da pena.
17. (to go sour)
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
19. (rotation)
20. (in a series)
21. (bend)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
The driver made a sharp left turn.El chofer giró bruscamente a la izquierda.
The following day, the situation took an unexpected turn.Al día siguiente, la situación dio un giro inesperado.
23. (shock)
24. (dizziness)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
He has an elegant turn of phrase.Él se expresa de manera elegante.
She has a critical turn of mind.Ella tiene una forma de pensar crítica.
twist(
twihst
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to turn)
a. girar
Claire twisted the doorknob carefully so the baby didn't wake up.Claire giró la perilla cuidadosamente para que el bebé no se despertara.
2. (to coil)
3. (to sprain)
a. torcerse
I twisted my ankle when I ran after the ball.Me torcí el tobillo cuando corrí tras la pelota.
4. (to writhe)
5. (to distort)
a. torcer
This newspaper tends to twist the truth about what happens.Este periódico tiende a torcer la verdad de los hechos.
b. tergiversar
Logan twisted my words and got me in trouble.Logan tergiversó mis palabras y me metió en problemas.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
6. (to wind)
a. enrollarse
Vines twist around the lamp posts at the park.Las enredaderas se enrollan alrededor de las farolas del parque.
8. (to writhe)
a. retorcerse
Stop twisting like that, or I'll never be able to get that spider off your back.Deja de retorcerte de esa manera o nunca logré quitarte esa araña de la espalda.
9. (to dance)
a. bailar el twist
Hazel and Tobias twisted at the party all night long.Hazel y Tobias bailaron el twist en la fiesta toda la noche.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
11. (bend)
12. (sewing)
a. la espiral (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I’d like a martini with a twist of lemon.Yo quiero un martini con una espiral de limón.
b. el pedacito (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I like mineral water with a twist of lime.Me gusta el agua mineral con un pedacito de lima.
c. el cucurucho (M) (of paper)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We made paper twists and used them as party hats.Hicimos cucuruchos de papel y los usamos como sombreros de fiesta.
d. la voluta (F) (of smoke)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
We could see the twists of smoke from his cigar from our table.Podíamos ver las volutas de humo de su puro desde nuestra mesa.
e. el rollo (M) (of tobacco)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Nolan bought a twist of tobacco and a cup of coffee before getting on the train.Nolan compró un rollo de tabaco y un café antes de subir al tren.
a. el giro inesperado (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I believe that the final twist in the novel is what makes it so unique.Considero que el giro inesperado al final de la novela es lo que la hace única.
15. (injury)
a. la torcedura (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
That's a pretty serious twist; I'm afraid you won't be able to compete in the tournament.Es una torcedura bastante seria; me temo que no vas a poder competir en el torneo.
