turnos
/TOOR-nohs/
turns
A line of children waiting for their turn to use the slide.
turnos(noun)
turns
?the order in which people do something
appointments
?scheduled times to see a professional, like a doctor
📝 In Action
Respetamos los turnos en la fila.
A1We respect the turns in the line.
Es difícil conseguir turnos con ese dentista.
A2It is difficult to get appointments with that dentist.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Plural
Since this word ends in '-os,' it is a masculine naming word. Use 'los' or 'estos' when talking about more than one turn.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Turnos vs. Tiempo
Mistake: "Using 'tiempo' to mean it's your turn."
Correction: Say 'es mi turno' (it is my turn), not 'es mi tiempo'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Medical Context
In many Spanish-speaking countries, especially in South America, 'turnos' is the standard word for doctor appointments.
Workers changing shifts at a hospital.
📝 In Action
Él trabaja en turnos de ocho horas.
B1He works in eight-hour shifts.
Tenemos turnos rotativos en la fábrica.
B2We have rotating shifts at the factory.
💡 Grammar Points
Work Vocabulary
When 'turnos' refers to work, it describes the block of time you are at your job.
Two people taking turns while playing a game together.
📝 In Action
Tú te turnos con tu hermano para lavar los platos.
B2You take turns with your brother to wash the dishes.
⭐ Usage Tips
Reflexive Use
This action word is often used with 'se' (turnarse) to show people are doing it together.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: turnos
Question 1 of 2
If you are at a hospital and you have 'turnos' scheduled, what do you have?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'turnos' only apply to people?
Not necessarily. It can apply to anything that follows a sequence, like machines operating in shifts or teams alternating in a stadium.
How do I say 'it's my turn' in the plural?
If you are speaking for a group, you would say 'son nuestros turnos' (they are our turns).