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"Twist" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "girar", and "spin" is a transitive verb which is also often translated as "girar". Learn more about the difference between "twist" and "spin" below.
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.
spin(
spihn
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to rotate)
a. centrifugar
The washing machine is not spinning the clothes properly.La lavadora no centrifuga bien la ropa.
3. (to make)
4. (sports)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
6. (to rotate)
a. girar
The wheels started to spin as soon as he put his foot on the accelerator.Las ruedas empezaron a girar en cuanto pisó el acelerador.
a. centrifugar
The washing machine is leaking water when it spins.La lavadora pierde agua cuando centrifuga.
8. (to weave)
a. hilar
The local women make money from spinning and weaving.Las mujeres del lugar ganan dinero hilando y tejiendo.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
a. la rotación (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).
What's the direction of the Earth's spin?¿Cuál es sentido de la rotación de la Tierra?
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Give the wheel a spin and see what number it lands on.Haz girar la rueda a ver en qué número se detiene.
The boys were giving their tops a spin.Los niños hacían girar sus peonzas.
a. el centrifugado (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).
The washing machine is on its final spin.La lavadora está en el último centrifugado.
a. la barrena (F) (of an aircraft)
(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).
The pilot lost control and went into a spin.El piloto perdió el control y entró en barrena.
b. el trompo (M) (of a car)
(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).
The Formula One driver did a spectacular spin when he went off the track.El piloto de Fórmula 1 realizó un trompo espectacular al salirse de la pista.
12. (colloquial) (ride)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
13. (sports)
a. el efecto (M) (on a ball)
(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).
The team won the match because the pitcher put spin on the ball to trick the hitter.El equipo ganó el partido porque el pícher lanzó la bola con efecto para engañar al bateador.
14. (interpretation)
a. el sesgo (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).
The government is trying to put a positive spin on a bad situation.El gobierno intenta darle un sesgo positivo a una mala situación.
