vs
QUICK ANSWER
"Whirl" is a noun which is often translated as "el giro", and "spin" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "girar". Learn more about the difference between "whirl" and "spin" below.
whirl(
wuhrl
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (spin)
2. (nature)
a. el remolino (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).
Clark had to be careful of the whirl he saw on the surface of the lake.Clark tuvo que tener cuidado del remolino que vio sobre el superficie del lago.
b. el torbellino (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 whirl of dust forced me to continue with my eyes shut.El torbellino de polvo me obligó a continuar con los ojos cerrados.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
3. (to spin)
a. hacer girar
The ballerina's dance partner whirled her as she did a pirouette en pointe.El compañero de baile de la bailarina la hizo girar mientras ella hizo una pirueta sobre puntas.
a. llevar
A limo driver whirled us off to the art gallery in time for the gala.Un conductor de limusina nos llevó a la galería de arte a tiempo para la gala.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. girar
Trevor watched the lights as the carousel whirled around.Trevor miró las luces mientras giraba el carrusel.
b. arremolinarse
When I saw the water start to whirl around, I didn't know what to do.Cuando vi el agua empezar a arremolinarse, no sabía qué hacer.
c. dar vueltas
Ann whirled around in the air while the spectators applauded.Ann dio vueltas en el aire mientras los espectadores aplaudieron.
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.
