doblar
“doblar” means “to fold” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
to fold
Also: to bend
📝 In Action
Tengo que doblar la ropa limpia.
A1I have to fold the clean clothes.
No dobles la esquina de la página.
A2Don't fold the corner of the page.
Él puede doblar una barra de hierro con sus manos.
B1He can bend an iron bar with his hands.
to turn
📝 In Action
Dobla a la derecha en la próxima calle.
A1Turn right at the next street.
Tienes que doblar la esquina para ver el cine.
A2You have to turn the corner to see the cinema.
Doblamos por un camino muy estrecho.
B1We turned onto a very narrow path.
to double
📝 In Action
Queremos doblar las ventas este año.
B1We want to double sales this year.
Él me dobla la edad.
B2He is twice my age (He doubles my age).
La población se ha doblado en una década.
C1The population has doubled in a decade.
to dub
📝 In Action
Prefiero las películas dobladas al español.
B1I prefer movies dubbed into Spanish.
Él dobla la voz de muchos personajes de dibujos animados.
B2He dubs the voice of many cartoon characters.
La película fue doblada en México.
B2The movie was dubbed in Mexico.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: doblar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these would you 'doblar' after doing chores?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'duplāre', which means 'to make double' or 'to fold.'
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'doblar' and 'girar'?
Both can mean 'to turn.' 'Doblar' is more common for streets/corners in Latin America, while 'girar' is common in Spain or for rotating objects (like a wheel).
Can 'doblar' mean to die?
Yes, in very specific poetic or religious contexts, 'doblar las campanas' (to toll the bells) signifies a death, and colloquially in some regions, it can figuratively mean 'to pass away' or 'to fold/give up,' though this is less common for beginners.
How do I say 'unfold'?
Just add the prefix 'des-' to get 'desdoblar'.