Inklingo

How to Say "reverse" in Spanish

English → Spanish

revés

nounA2general
Use 'revés' when referring to the back, inner, or wrong side of something, like fabric, a card, or a surface.

Examples

Me puse el jersey del revés.

I put on my sweater inside out.

cruz

kroozkɾuθ

nounB1general
Use 'cruz' specifically when talking about the outcome of a coin toss, where it represents 'tails' as opposed to 'heads ('cara').
A close-up illustration of the reverse side of a gold coin, showing a simple, decorative crest design and no text.

Examples

¿Quieres que salga cara o cruz?

Do you want heads or tails to come up?

Vamos a tirar una moneda: ¿cara o cruz?

We are going to flip a coin: heads or tails?

Si sale cruz, tú empiezas el juego.

If it lands on tails, you start the game.

The Coin Flip

In Spanish, the two sides of a coin are 'cara' (face/heads) and 'cruz' (cross/tails). Remember the phrase 'cara o cruz' to mean 'heads or tails'.

inverso

een-VEHR-sohinˈbeɾso

adjectiveB1general
Use 'inverso' as an adjective to describe a direction, order, or sequence that is contrary or opposite to something else.
A row of blue birds flying to the right, with one red bird flying in the opposite direction.

Examples

La ruta inversa es más larga.

The reverse route is longer.

Caminaron en el sentido inverso al nuestro.

They walked in the opposite direction from us.

El orden inverso de los factores no altera el producto.

The reverse order of the factors doesn't change the result.

Hay una relación inversa entre el precio y la cantidad vendida.

There is an inverse relationship between the price and the quantity sold.

Matching the Noun

Since this is an adjective, it must match the gender of the object it describes. Use 'inverso' for masculine things and 'inversa' for feminine things.

Positioning

In technical or mathematical phrases like 'relación inversa,' it usually comes after the noun.

Confusing with 'invertido'

Mistake: “La relación es invertida.”

Correction: La relación es inversa.

Confusing 'revés' and 'inverso'

Learners often confuse 'revés' and 'inverso'. Remember that 'revés' typically refers to a physical side (like the back of a shirt), while 'inverso' describes an opposite direction or order.

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