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"Voltear" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to turn over", and "girar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to turn". Learn more about the difference between "voltear" and "girar" below.
voltear(
bohl
-
teh
-
ahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to invert)
b. to turn around
Annie se dirigió a la puerta y volteó el cartel de «abierto».Annie walked to the door and turned the "open" sign around.
c. to flip
Volteo el colchón cada seis meses para que no pierda su forma.I flip the mattress every six months so it doesn't lose its shape.
d. to toss
El público se quedó boquiabierto cuando el toro volteó al matador.The audience gasped when the bull tossed the matador.
e. to turn upside down (chair or table)
Voltea la silla rota para que nadie se siente en ella.Turn the broken chair upside down so no one sits on it.
f. to knock over
Teresa volteó la mesa durante un arrebato de iras.Teresa knocked over the table in a fit of rage.
a. to turn
Linda volteó la cabeza para evitar ver la grotesca escena.Linda turned her head to avoid seeing the gruesome scene.
a. to ring
El sacerdote voltea las campanas de la iglesia cada hora.The priest rings the church bells every hour.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
4. (to change direction) (Central America) (Venezuela)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Venezuela
a. to turn
Voltea a la derecha aquí y estaciona en un hueco libre.Turn right here and park in in a free spot.
5. (to spin)
a. to turn around
Me volteé para ver quién estaba detrás de mí, pero no había nadie.I turned around to see who was behind me, but nobody was there.
voltearse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
6. (to change position) (Central America)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
a. to turn around
Voy a cambiarme. Por favor, voltéate.I'm going to get changed. Please, turn around.
a. to overturn
El coche no se volteó porque íbamos a baja velocidad.The car did not overturn because we were driving at a low speed.
b. to turn over
Las olas voltearon nuestro bote y tuvimos que nadar de regreso a la costa.The waves turned our boat over and we had to swim back to the shore.
8. (to change loyalty) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to change one's allegiance
Sus aliados más poderosos se voltearon por dinero.His most powerful allies changed their allegiance over money.
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.).
