roll
Listen to an audio pronunciation
el rollo
Listen to an audio pronunciation
rodar
Listen to an audio pronunciation
Dictionary
Examples
Pronunciation
Phrases
roll(
rol
)
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
noun
1. (cylindrical shape)
a. el rollo
(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).
(M)
 (of paper, fabric, film, etc.)
We need a new roll of toilet paper in the bathroom.Hace falta otro rollo de papel higiénico en el baño.
b. el fajo
(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).
(M)
 (of banknotes)
The thief forced the safe open and took all the rolls of banknotes inside.El ladrón forzó la caja fuerte y agarró todos los fajos de billetes que había dentro.
c. el rollo
(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).
(M)
 (of fat)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
(River Plate)
There was a roll of fat escaping over the top of his shirt collar.Un rollo de grasa le salía por encima del cuello de la camisa.
d. la llanta
(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).
(F)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
She had big rolls of fat on her stomach.Tenía grandes llantas en la panza.
e. el michelín
(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).
(M)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(of fat)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
These exercises for abs will get rid of those rolls of fat on your tummy.Estos ejercicios para abdominales te quitarán esos michelines.
2. (culinary)
a. el panecillo
(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).
(M)
I ordered a coffee and a roll with butter for breakfast.Pedí un café y un panecillo con mantequilla para desayunar.
b. el bolillo
(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).
(M)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
You can make your own rolls with flour, yeast, salt, and water.Puedes hacer tus propios bolillos con harina, levadura, sal y agua.
3. (movement)
a. el balanceo
(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).
(M)
The gentle roll of the train cause the baby to fall sleep.El suave balanceo del tren hizo que el bebé se durmiera.
b. el bamboleo
(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).
(M)
The roll of the ship was making me sick.El bamboleo del barco me estaba mareando.
4. (noise)
a. el redoble
(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).
(M)
 (of a drum)
The presenter announced the winner after a drum roll.El presentador anunció el ganador tras un redoble de tambor.
b. el retumbo
(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).
(M)
 (of thunder)
During a storm, lightning is usually followed by the roll of thunder.En una tormenta, el rayo suele ir seguido del retumbo del trueno.
5. (list)
a. la lista
(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).
(F)
His name is not on the roll.Su nombre no aparece en la lista.
b.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
The school has 450 pupils on the roll.La escuela tiene matriculados a 450 alumnos.
The teacher called the roll.El profesor pasó lista.
6. (throw)
a. la tirada
(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).
(F)
You can win the game with a single roll of the dice.Puedes ganar el juego con una sola tirada de los dados.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
7. (to revolve)
a. rodar
Some rocks had rolled down the mountain, blocking our way.Unas rocas habían rodado montaña abajo y nos bloqueaban el camino.
8. (to move)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
A tear rolled down her cheek.Una lágrima le corrió por la mejilla.
The train rolled slowly into the station and came to a stop.El tren entró despacio en la estación y se paró.
9. (to turn over)
a. revolcarse
My dog likes to roll in the grass.A mi perro le encanta revolcarse en la hierba.
10. (to make a noise)
a. retumbar
I knew a storm was coming because I could hear the thunder rolling in the distance.Sabía que se acercaba una tormenta porque oía los truenos retumbar a lo lejos.
11. (to sway)
a. balancearse
The storm was causing the ship to roll and it made me sick.La tormenta hacía que el barco se balanceara y me mareé.
b. bambolearse
Turbulence can cause a plane to roll.Las turbulencias pueden hacer que un avión se bambolee.
12. (to operate)
a. rodar
When the director yells "Action!," the cameras start rolling.Cuando el director grita "¡Acción!", las cámaras empiezan a rodar.
b. funcionar
The company needs more financial support to keep the machines rolling.La compañía necesita más apoyo ecónomico para que siga funcionando la maquinaria.
13. (to extend)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
I gave a shout and the echo rolled away into the night.Di un grito y el eco se fue perdiendo en la noche.
People left the theater as the final credits rolled.Mientras los créditos iban pasando, la gente abandonaba el cine.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
transitive verb
14. (to toss or cause to turn)
a. hacer rodar
The barrel was too heavy to move, so I rolled it on its side.El barril pesaba mucho para moverlo, así que lo hice rodar por el costado.
b. tirar (the dice)
I rolled the dice, hoping for a six.Tiré los dados, esperando que saliera un seis.
c. rebozar (food)
Roll the meatballs in flour.Reboce las albóndigas en harina.
d. poner en blanco
A phrase used as a figure of speech or a word that is symbolic in meaning; metaphorical (e.g. carrot, bean).
(figurative)
(one's eyes)
She rolled her eyes when she heard his sexist remarks.Cuando oyó sus comentarios sexistas, ella puso los ojos en blanco.
15. (to make into a roll)
a. liar (a cigarette or oneself)
I was so exhausted that I rolled myself in a blanket and fell asleep on the couch.Estaba tan agotado que me lié en una manta y me quedé dormido en el sofá.
b. enrollar (a piece of paper or a carpet)
She rolled the newspaper and put it into her shopping bag.Enrolló el periódico y lo metió en su bolsa de la compra.
16. (to flatten)
a. apisonar (the road)
Workmen were rolling the newly laid tarmac.Los obreros estaban apisonando el asfalto recién puesto.
b. pasar el rodillo por (the lawn or the pitch)
They were rolling the pitch to get it into shape after Saturday’s game.Estaban pasando el rodillo por el campo para ponerlo a punto después del partido del sábado.
c. estirar (the dough)
Roll the fondant with a rolling pin until it is the size you need.Estire el fondant con un rodillo hasta que alcance el tamaño necesario.
d. laminar
A word or phrase that is only used by experts, professionals, or academics in a particular field (e.g. exposition).
(technical)
(metal)
The company manufactures rolled steel plates.La compañía produce placas de acero laminado.
17.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g. skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(to rob)
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
a. atracar
They’ll roll you for a few dollars in that part of town.En esa zona de la ciudad, te atracan por unos cuantos dólares.
Copyright © Curiosity Media Inc.
roll
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling or idea (e.g. man, dog, house).
Noun
1. (of paper, film)
a. el rollo
(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).
(M)
2. (of fat, flesh)
a. el michelín
(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).
(M)
Regionalism used in Spain
(Spain)
b. la llanta
(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).
(F)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
c. el rollo
(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).
(M)
(River Plate)
3. (of banknotes)
a. el fajo
(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).
(M)
4. (bread)
a. el panecillo
(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).
(M)
b. el bolillo
(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).
(M)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
5. (noise; of drum)
a. el redoble
(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).
(M)
6. (of thunder)
a. el retumbo
(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).
(M)
7. (movement; of ship)
a. el balanceo
(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).
(M)
8. (colloquial)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
to be on a rollllevar una buena racha
9. (list)
a. la lista
(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).
(F)
to take a roll callpasar lista
10. (military)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
roll of honorlista de los caídos en la guerra
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
transitive verb
11. (ball)
a. hacer rodar
to roll something along the groundhacer rodar algo por el suelo
to roll one's eyesponer los ojos en blanco
to roll one's r'smarcar las erres al hablar
the animal rolled itself into a ballel animal se hizo una bola or se enroscó
12. (road, lawn)
a. apisonar
13. (metal)
a. laminar
14. (cigarette)
a. liar
15. (paper, carpet)
a. enrollar
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
16. (ball)
a. rodar
17. (ship)
a. balancearse
18. (cine camera)
a. rodar
19. (fig)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
heads will rollvan a rodar cabezas
20. (colloquial)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
to be rolling in money, to be rolling in itnadar en la abundancia estar montado(a) en el dólar
21. (fig)
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
to start the ball rollingponer las cosas en marcha
22. (thunder)
a. retumbar
Copyright © 2006 Harrap Publishers Limited
roll [rəʊl]
noun
1 [of paper, cloth, wire, tobacco] rollo (m); [of banknotes] fajo (m)
of fat, flesh
a roll of film un carrete or un rollo de fotos; a roll of wallpaper un rollo de papel pintado; rolls of fat (gen) rollos (m) or pliegues (m) de grasa; (on stomach) michelines (m) (humorous)
the photographers had already shot a dozen rolls of film a roll of blue insulated wire a roll of adhesive plaster he produced several rolls of hessian sacking I was employed to take the rolls of cloth off the looms there was a roll of flesh above his collar a bald fat guy, whose /abundant rolls of flesh/ made him look as if he were wearing an assortment of inner tubes beneath his shirt he took a roll of 100 dollar bills our of his pocket
2 [of bread] panecillo (m); bolillo (m); (Méx)
a roll and butter un panecillo or bolillo con mantequilla; (Méx)
he sipped at his coffee and spread butter and marmalade on a roll a dozen rolls
sausage Swiss
3 (list) lista (f)
to have 500 pupils on the roll tener inscritos a 500 alumnos
he attends church and is on the parish roll they must have taken the names from the class roll
membership roll roll of members lista (f) de miembros
very few memberhsip rolls of the Ku Klux Klan are in the public domain a book kept for the roll of members
to call the roll pasar lista
I see a number of members are missing - why don't we call that roll again? the sergeant was getting the men together to call the roll
falling rolls disminución en el número de alumnos inscritos
falling rolls and soaring costs are contributing to a record number of school closures.
roll of honour honor roll (US) lista de honor
two new names climbed to the top of flat racing's roll of honour in 1992 in any roll of honor for dumb managerial choices, the Western Union settlement usually ranks at the very top although I usually make the honor roll, my grades are seldom high enough to satisfy my parents to [strike] sb off the roll/to be [struck] off the roll
4 (sound) [of thunder, cannon] retumbo (m); [of drum] redoble (m)
there was a roll of drums se oyó un redoble de tambores
a distant flash of lightning followed by a roll of thunder the distant rolls of thunder would soon fade away no fanfares - there is only the subdued roll of drums we could hear the volley and the roll of drums from the house we were living in
5 [of gait] contoneo (m); bamboleo (m); [of ship, plane] balanceo (m)
the seductive roll of her hips as she walked the ship gave a sudden roll the boat settled into a slow roll she was now hull-down except /on the top of the roll/, tearing along under an extraordinary press of sail the tug gave a sharper roll and we reached quickly for sliding dishes
6 (act of rolling) revolcón (m)
the horse was having a roll on the grass el caballo se estaba revolcando en la hierba
a roll in the hay un revolcón (informal)
to have a roll in the hay (with sb) darse un revolcón or revolcarse (con algn) (informal)
don't you just hanker for a brisk, unannounced, riproaring roll in the hay?
7 [of dice] tirada (f)
his fate depended on a roll of the dice
to be on a roll estar en racha; tener una buena racha
the company was on a roll I made a name for myself and /I was on a roll - I couldn't see anything going wrong/ everyone seemed to agree with us, so we were on a roll, as gamblers say in 1986 Goodyear was on a roll - it had begun to diversify out of the tyre business he was always on a roll - when people start winning it's hard to get them out of the habit
transitive verb
1 (send rolling) [+ball] hacer rodar
to roll a ball along the pavement to roll a stone downhill they were rolling barrels down the street to the pub I rolled a ball across the carpet
to roll the dice tirar los dados
2 (turn over)
roll the meat in the breadcrumbs rebozar la carne con el pan rallado; I rolled her onto her back la puse boca arriba
3 (move)
I rolled the trolley out of the way empujé el carro para quitarlo del medio; to roll sth between one's fingers hacer rodar algo entre los dedos
to roll a car to the side of the road
to roll one's eyes poner los ojos en blanco
Bill rolled his eyes heavenward and groaned audibly he would roll his eyes heavenward if her name was mentioned people may roll their eyes and talk about overprotective, interfering grandmothers.. she rolled her eyes in exasperation Lynn glanced at Marsha, who rolled her eyes hopelessly...
4 (make into roll) [+cigarette] liar
he rolled himself in a blanket se enrolló en una manta; she rolled her sweater into a pillow hizo una bola con el jersey para usarlo como almohada
she rolled the bedsheet and the blanket in a bundle I rolled the paper into a tube I prefer to roll my own he rolled and lit another cigarette
she is trainer and manager rolled into one es entrenadora y representante a la vez; it's a kitchen and dining room rolled into one es una cocina comedor
experts claimed that teachers had to be Einstein, Marie Curie and Linford Christie rolled into one to help children grasp the new national curriculum a good musical is a new play, a new opera and a new ballet all rolled into one
to roll one's r's pronunciar fuertemente las erres
you'll have to learn to roll your r's if you're going to study Spanish
to roll one's tongue enrollar la lengua
she grimaced and rolled her tongue around her mouth and lips do you know how to roll your tongue?
ball
5 (flatten) [+road] apisonar; [+lawn, pitch] pasar el rodillo por; apisonar; [+pastry, dough] estirar; [+metal] laminar
they had special machines for rolling the newly laid tarmac the gardener was busy rolling the lawns the pitch will need rolling before it's played on again roll the pastry into a 9 inch circle the steel is then rolled into wafer thin sheets
6 (US) (rob) atracar
intransitive verb
1 (go rolling) ir rodando; (on ground, in pain) revolcarse
the ball rolled into the net el balón entró rodando en la red; the children were rolling down the slope los niños iban rodando cuesta abajo; it rolled under the chair desapareció or rodó debajo de la silla; it went rolling downhill fue rodando cuesta abajo; the horse rolled in the mud el caballo se revolcó en el barro
a boulder had hit him as it rolled down the mountain the bucket rolled and clattered down the path when I was a little kid I rolled down a hill and broke my leg.. the children were rolling on the floor from the smell of him, the little dog had clearly been rolling in manure
to be rolling in the aisles estar muerto de risa
helpless audiences rolling in the aisles
they're rolling in money
they're rolling in it
están forrados (informal)
just give me five years and we'll be rolling in it
ball head
2 (move)
the bus rolled to a stop el autobús se paró; the tanks rolled into the city los tanques entraron en la ciudad; the convoy rolled slowly along the road el convoy avanzaba lentamente por la carretera; newspapers were rolling off the presses los periódicos estaban saliendo de las prensas; tears rolled down her cheeks las lágrimas le corrían or caían por la cara; the waves were rolling onto the beach las olas batían contra la playa; his eyes rolled wildly los ojos se le ponían en blanco y parpadeaba descontroladamente
trucks with loudspeakers rolled through the streets there were 100,000 Sri Lankans in Kuwait when the Iraqi tanks rolled across the border tanks and military vehicles rolled menacingly past the parliament building the lorry quietly rolled forward and demolished all the old wooden fencing the sweat rolled down my neck the houses overlook the Atlantic Ocean, with its great waves rolling onto miles of white sand beach his eyes rolled in great alarm the dogs, eyes rolling and jaws slavering, continued to paw and claw
tongue
3 (turn over) [+person, animal]
he rolled off the sofa se dio la vuelta y se cayó del sofá; she rolled onto her back se puso boca arriba
he was crushed when the horse rolled on top of him
4 [+land] ondular
vast plains rolled into the distance las vastas llanuras se perdían en la distancia
the mountains roll down to the sea she remembered the hotel garden, with its velvet lawn rolling down to the Connecticut River
5 (operate) [+camera] rodar; [+machine] funcionar; estar en marcha
the presses are rolling again las prensas están funcionando or en marcha otra vez
he slipped and fell on an airplane gangway as the cameras rolled our three printing machines were rolling twenty-four hours a day the cameras continued to roll as she pulled up to the nightclub with the hidden cameras rolling, Williams boasted of his influence. to [get] sth rolling
I couldn't think of anything to say to get the conversation rolling no se me ocurría nada para empezar la conversación; his first priority is to get the economy rolling again su mayor prioridad es volver a sacar la economía a flote
it just means that it's going to take that much longer to get things rolling again we must get talks rolling they polled significantly in a number of wards, but not nearly well enough to gain seats or to set an electoral bandwagon rolling the developer usually gets the project rolling by finding tenants
6 (sound) [+thunder] retumbar; [+drum] redoblar
the thunder rolled in the distance the drums are faintly rolling
7 (sway) (in walking) contonearse; bambolearse; (Náut) balancearse
he rolled from side to side as he walked the boat was still rolling and pitching
modifier
roll bar (n) (Aut) barra (f) antivuelco
it has alloy wheels and anti-roll bars front and rear to reduce body lean when cornering he was saved by the Porsche's roll bar
roll call (n) lista (f)
the boys fall into line to answer roll call we were compelled to stand in the snow every morning for roll call he read out a roll call of new arrivals the list of signatories to the June manifesto reads like a roll call of the papal household
to take (a) roll call pasar lista
we were waiting for the roll call to be taken they stood in line while the sergeant took roll call
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
Word Roots
Hover on a tile to learn new words with the same root.
Examples
'roll' in our machine translators
Learn Spanish with Fluencia, the easiest way to learn Spanish from the creators of SpanishDict
Explore SpanishDict
We've combined the most accurate English to Spanish translations, dictionary, verb conjugations, and Spanish to English translators into one very powerful search box.
Learn Spanish with Fluencia
Try Fluencia, the new Spanish learning program from SpanishDict.
  • Fun and interactive
  • Highly effective
  • Easy to use
  • Works on any device
Start Learning
Did this page answer your question?