Patrick Jackson
If you have ever wondered what does the word “vuelta” mean in Spanish, well today we will cover 9 different ways to use the Spanish word “vuelta.”
1. Dar una vuelta/dar vueltas – Pasear (go for a walk, ride, drive, short trip, etc.)
Está linda la tarde, quiero dar vueltas (una vuelta) por la playa.
The afternoon is beautiful, I want to take a stroll/short trip through the beach.
2. Dar una vuelta/dar vueltas – to turn
Notice that “dar una vuelta/dar vueltas” has 2 meanings:
a. Dar una vuelta/dar vueltas – Pasear (go for a walk, ride, drive, short trip, etc.)
b. Dar una vuelta/dar vueltas – to turn
Here’s an example of the second meaning:
Ella le dio tres vueltas a la llave.
She turned the key three times.
The second definition of “dar una vuelta/dar vueltas” reminds me of an “adivinanza” (riddle) that a “taxista” asked me a few days ago:
¿Cuál es el animal que después de muerto da muchas vueltas? (Which animal after dying makes a lot of turns?)
Repuesta (answer): El pollo asado. (Roast chicken).
“Pollo asado” which literally means roast chicken, is also the way Spanish speakers say “rotisserie chicken.”
3. Hacer vueltas – run errands
Hoy no puedo ir a la playa. Voy a hacer vueltas.
Today I cannot go to the beach. I am going to run errands.
Using “hacer vueltas” to mean “to run errands” is a very Colombian phrase. I asked one of the LSLC instructors from Argentina who told me they never use “hacer vueltas” to mean “to run errands” in Argentina.
4. Darle vuelta – revisar/cuidar (to check on something)
Voy a darle vuelta al arroz para que no se me queme.
I am going to check on the rice so that is doesn’t burn.
“Darle vuelta” may be a Colombian only word or phrase as well. I have only heard Colombians use “darle vuelta.”
5. Estar de vuelta de – to be back from
Estoy de vuelta de la escuela.
I am back from school.
6. Dese la vuelta – turn around
The first time that anyone ever said the phrase “dese la vuelta” to me was on my first trip to Colombia
in 2005. I was in the airport and the metal detectors went off as I passed through them. And then the
airport security person who was checking me with a hand-held metal detector said to me “dese la vuelta.”
Although I had never heard the phrase “dese la vuelta,” before, it was obvious from the context that “dese la vuelta” meant “turn around.”
7. La vuelta – cambio (change)
Quédese con la vuelta.
Keep the change.
¿Me da la vuelta?
Can I have my change.
In some Spanish speaking countries, they use the word “vuelto” instead of “vuelta” for the English word change. In Colombia they use “vuelta,” but if you use the word “cambio” for change you will be understood in any Spanish-speaking country.
8. A la vuelta de la esquina – around the corner
Vive a la vuelta de la esquina.
He lives around the corner.
9. De ida y vuelta – round trip
Necesito un billete de ida y vuelta.
I need a round trip ticket.
