How do you say turn in Spanish?

Turn translates to several Spanish words: girar for rotation, doblar for turning a corner, voltear for flipping over, and turno (noun) for a turn in line or a work shift. The correct choice depends on the specific type of turning involved.

What is the difference between girar and doblar?

Girar describes a rotational movement, like turning a steering wheel or spinning in place. Doblar means to turn at a corner or intersection, making it the standard verb in driving and walking directions across Latin America.

How do you say it's my turn in Spanish?

The phrase es mi turno is a direct and universally understood way to say it's my turn. In more casual speech, me toca (literally it touches me) is the colloquial alternative used across Latin America and Spain.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Turn in Spanish: Girar

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Girar · verb · hee-RAHR

Turn splits into multiple Spanish words depending on meaning: girar for rotating or turning direction, doblar for turning a corner while driving or walking, voltear for flipping something over, and turno as a noun for a turn in a queue or a work shift. English packs all these meanings into one word, but Spanish insists on precision.

Girar is pronounced hee-RAHR, with the g before i producing an h-like sound. Doblar is doh-BLAHR, and voltear is bohl-teh-AHR.

Gira a la izquierda en la próxima esquina.

Turn left at the next corner.

Turn in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for turn, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
girar	turn	hee-RAHR	Default, widely understood
turno	turn		noun form meaning a turn in a sequence or shift at work
voltear	turn		used in Latin America for turning something over or turning around
doblar	turn		used for turning a corner, especially in driving directions

How Native Speakers Use Girar

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Driving direction

Dobla a la derecha después del puente y verás el estacionamiento.

Turn right after the bridge and you'll see the parking lot.

Doblar is the most natural verb for turning a corner in driving directions across most of Latin America.

Rotating an object

Gira la perilla hacia la derecha para subir el volumen.

Turn the knob to the right to raise the volume.

Girar works for physical rotation: turning a dial, steering wheel, or key.

Taking turns

Es tu turno de lavar los platos esta noche.

It's your turn to wash the dishes tonight.

Turno is the noun form for a turn in a sequence, a shift at work, or an appointment slot.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Girar

Using girar when doblar is expected

Incorrect: Gira en la esquina para llegar al supermercado.

Correct: Dobla en la esquina para llegar al supermercado.

For turning a corner in directions, doblar is preferred in most Latin American Spanish. Girar sounds more technical, as if rotating in place rather than navigating a corner.

Using turno as a verb

Incorrect: Turna la página para ver la respuesta.

Correct: Voltea la página para ver la respuesta.

Turno is a noun (a turn in sequence), not a verb. For turning a page, voltear or dar vuelta are the correct verbs.

Lock in Turn Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Girar used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using girar in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Gira a la izquierda en la próxima esquina. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Turn in Spanish

How do you say turn in Spanish?: Turn translates to several Spanish words: girar for rotation, doblar for turning a corner, voltear for flipping over, and turno (noun) for a turn in line or a work shift. The correct choice depends on the specific type of turning involved.
What is the difference between girar and doblar?: Girar describes a rotational movement, like turning a steering wheel or spinning in place. Doblar means to turn at a corner or intersection, making it the standard verb in driving and walking directions across Latin America.
How do you say it's my turn in Spanish?: The phrase es mi turno is a direct and universally understood way to say it's my turn. In more casual speech, me toca (literally it touches me) is the colloquial alternative used across Latin America and Spain.