virar
“virar” means “to turn” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to turn
Also: to veer, to tack
📝 In Action
Tienes que virar a la derecha en el semáforo.
A2You have to turn right at the traffic light.
El barco viró para evitar la tormenta.
B1The boat veered to avoid the storm.
No puedes virar en U en esta avenida.
B1You cannot make a U-turn on this avenue.
to return
Also: to come back
📝 In Action
Espérame aquí, viro en un minuto.
B1Wait for me here, I'll be back in a minute.
Viro para la casa porque olvidé las llaves.
B1I'm going back to the house because I forgot my keys.
Ella viró de su viaje ayer.
B2She returned from her trip yesterday.
to shift
Also: to pivot
📝 In Action
El gobierno viró su política económica.
C1The government shifted its economic policy.
La opinión pública viró hacia el optimismo.
B2Public opinion shifted toward optimism.
Después del debate, muchos viraron su voto.
C1After the debate, many changed their vote.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: virar
Question 1 of 3
If you are driving in Havana and someone says '¡Vira aquí!', what should you do?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the French word 'virer,' which likely comes from a Vulgar Latin word meaning 'to turn' or 'to circle.' It shares roots with 'veer' in English.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'virar' the same as 'doblar'?
Yes, in most contexts involving directions, they are synonyms. 'Doblar' is more common in Mexico and Spain, while 'virar' is the go-to word in the Caribbean.
Is 'virar' a regular verb?
Yes! It follows all the regular rules for verbs that end in -ar. No surprise stem changes here.
Can I use 'virar' to mean 'to return' in Spain?
People will likely understand you, but it will sound very strange. In Spain, it's better to use 'volver' or 'regresar' for returning.