Inklingo
← Dictionary

volcar

bohl-KAHRbolˈkaɾ

“volcar” means “to tip over” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to tip over

Also: to overturn, to capsize
VerbB1irregular stem-changing ar
A wooden toy truck tipped over on its side with colorful blocks spilled out on the floor.
gerundvolcando
past Participlevolcado
infinitivevolcar

📝 In Action

El fuerte viento volcó las sillas del jardín.

A2

The strong wind tipped over the garden chairs.

Ten cuidado, no vayas a volcar el vaso de agua.

B1

Be careful, don't tip over the glass of water.

El camión volcó en medio de la carretera.

B2

The truck overturned in the middle of the highway.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ladear (to tilt)
  • trastocar (to upset/disrupt)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • volcar un coche – to flip a car
  • volcar el contenido – to pour out the contents

to devote oneself

Also: to go out of one's way, to pour one's heart into
VerbC1reflexive (volcarse) ar
A person kneeling in a garden, carefully planting a small green sprout with both hands.
gerundvolcándose
past Participlevolcado
infinitivevolcarse

📝 In Action

Ella se volcó totalmente en su nuevo trabajo.

B2

She devoted herself entirely to her new job.

Todo el pueblo se volcó para ayudar a los vecinos.

C1

The whole town went out of its way to help the neighbors.

Se está volcando en los estudios para aprobar el examen.

B2

He is throwing himself into his studies to pass the exam.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • dedicarse (to dedicate oneself)
  • entregarse (to give oneself over to)

Antonyms

  • desentenderse (to ignore/wash one's hands of)

Common Collocations

  • volcarse con alguien – to do everything one can for someone
  • volcarse en un proyecto – to throw oneself into a project

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yovolcara
túvolcaras
él/ella/ustedvolcara
nosotrosvolcáramos
vosotrosvolcarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesvolcaran

Present Subjunctive

yovuelque
túvuelques
él/ella/ustedvuelque
nosotrosvolquemos
vosotrosvolquéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesvuelquen

Indicative

Preterite

yovolqué
túvolcaste
él/ella/ustedvolcó
nosotrosvolcamos
vosotrosvolcasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesvolcaron

Imperfect

yovolcaba
túvolcabas
él/ella/ustedvolcaba
nosotrosvolcábamos
vosotrosvolcabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesvolcaban

Present

yovuelco
túvuelcas
él/ella/ustedvuelca
nosotrosvolcamos
vosotrosvolcáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesvuelcan
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "volcar" in Spanish:

to capsize→to overturn→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: volcar

Question 1 of 3

How do you say 'I tip over' in the present tense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
vuelco(upset/turnaround) — Noun
volquete(dump truck) — Noun
volcadura(overturning (accident)) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'volvicāre', which comes from 'volvere', meaning 'to roll' or 'to turn'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: revolveItalian: volcare

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'volcar' the same as 'tirar'?

Not quite. 'Tirar' means to throw or to knock something down. 'Volcar' specifically implies tipping something over so it spills or lies on its side.

Can 'volcar' be used for digital data?

Yes! In tech contexts, it is often used to mean 'dumping' or 'transferring' data from one place to another (volcar los datos).

Is the stem change (o to ue) used in all tenses?

No, only in the present tense (indicative and subjunctive) and the imperative. In the past, future, and conditional, the 'o' remains an 'o'.