What does tourner in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word tourner in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use tourner in French.

The word tourner in French means spin, go around, turn, turn, work, function, operate, do good business, turn, sour, appear, be, involve, turn, screw, rotate, turn, turn, roll, turn to , direct to, twist, bend, change into , make into , turn into, turn, turn to, turn to, go in circles, go round in circles, go round and round, turn, become, turn, it's going to turn nasty, things are going to turn nasty, dead weight, run, drive nuts, turn 's head, make 's head spin, put a wash on, put a load of washing on, take a turn for the worse, go astray, not run smoothly, have a screw loose, twiddle your thumbs, turn right, turn left, turn sour, go sour, take a disastrous turn, be flat out, be at full capacity, turn to your advantage, run idle, tick over, spin your wheels, take a disastrous turn, turn out to be to 's disadvantage, prove to be to 's disadvantage, turn into a fiasco, turn into a massacre, just tick over, turn to vinegar, turn into vinegar, turn sour, turn around , go around, beat about the bush, beat around the bush, be a turncoat, pace up and down like a caged lion, come to a sudden end, have no purchase, be in a film, faint, be played on a loop, mock, ridicule, ridicule, go in circles, go round in circles, pace around, go round in circles, go round and round in circles, over-rev, go into overdrive, think twice before speaking, think twice before you speak, make a fresh start, put behind you, turn your back to , turn your back on, turn your back on, turn your back on, show a clean pair of heels, run smoothly, turn round, spin round, shoot a film, draw a line under. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word tourner

spin

verbe intransitif (pivoter)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

La toupie tourne (sur elle-même).

The top spins.

go around

verbe intransitif (aller en rond)

La Lune tourne autour de la Terre.

The moon orbits the Earth.

turn

verbe intransitif (changer de direction) (navigation)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Au feu, tournez à droite, puis allez tout droit et la mairie sera sur votre gauche.

Turn right at the lights, then go straight on and the town hall will be on your left.

turn, work, function, operate

verbe intransitif (mécanisme : fonctionner) (mechanism)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Ce moteur tourne comme une horloge. Ne faites pas de bruit, les caméras tournent.

Keep quiet; the cameras are rolling.

do good business

verbe intransitif (entreprise : avoir une activité)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Sa nouvelle entreprise tourne bien.

His new company is doing good business.

turn, sour

verbe intransitif (devenir aigre) (milk, wine)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Ce vin a tourné, il est bon à faire du vinaigre. Le lait a tourné : ne le bois pas !

That milk's gone off; don't drink it!

appear, be

verbe intransitif (acteur : jouer) (actor)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Cette actrice a tourné dans le dernier Besson.

That actress appeared (or: was) in Besson's most recent film.

involve

(avoir pour sujet)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Je m'intéresse à tout ce qui tourne autour de la cuisine.

I'm interested in everything that involves cookery.

turn, screw, rotate

verbe transitif (faire aller en rond)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Pour visser, il faut tourner la vis dans le sens des aiguilles d'une montre.

To tighten a screw, you have to turn it clockwise.

turn

verbe transitif (faire pivoter)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Tourne un peu l'écran : je ne vois pas bien.

Swivel the screen slightly; I can't see it very well.

turn

verbe transitif (changer : de page) (page)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Il adore tourner les pages de son livre d'histoire romaine.

He loves turning the pages of his Roman history book.

roll

verbe transitif (filmer) (movie camera)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Luc Besson tourne un film en Normandie.

ⓘCette phrase n'est pas une traduction de la phrase originale. Bruce Willis is acting in the latest Die Hard film.

turn to , direct to

(diriger) (thoughts)

En ce 11 novembre, nous tournons nos pensées vers nos aïeux.

On 11th November, we turn our thoughts to those who have given their lives for others.

twist, bend

verbe transitif (arranger, exprimer) (truth, fact: figurative)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Tu as une drôle de façon de tourner les faits !

You have a funny way of twisting the facts!

change into , make into , turn into

(changer)

Le réalisateur a tourné ce drame en comédie dramatique.

The director turned this drama into a dramatic comedy.

turn

verbe pronominal (changer de direction)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Tourne-toi vers moi que je puisse t'admirer.

Turn toward me so I can admire you.

turn to

(figuré (opter pour [qch])

(phrasal verb, transitive, inseparable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, not divisible--for example,"go with" [=combine nicely]: "Those red shoes don't go with my dress." NOT [S]"Those red shoes don't go my dress with."[/S])

Après ses quarante ans, elle s'est tournée vers une nouvelle carrière.

She turned to a new career after she turned forty.

turn to

(s'adresser à)

Quand il a eu des problèmes, Paul s'est tourné vers son frère.

When he had problems, Paul turned to his brother.

go in circles, go round in circles, go round and round

verbe intransitif (figuré (aller et venir, chercher) (be lost)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Nous avons tourné pendant 2 h dans ce village sans trouver le stade.

We've been going in circles for two hours in this village and we still haven't found the stadium.

turn

verbe transitif (travailler à l'aide d'un tour) (wood)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Every cabinetmaker learns to turn wood.

become, turn

verbe transitif indirect (devenir) (conversation, situation)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

L'expérience a vite tourné au ridicule.

The experience quickly became absurd.

it's going to turn nasty, things are going to turn nasty

(ça va mal finir)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

Ces disputes entre garçons qui ont trop bu, ça va tourner au vilain.

dead weight

nom masculin (familier (trouble-fête, personne gênante)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Ne dis pas à Bernard que nous faisons une fête ou cet empêcheur de tourner en rond va réussir à l'annuler ou la gâcher.

run

locution verbale (faire fonctionner [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

drive nuts

locution verbale (exaspérer [qqn]) (slang)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Tu vas me faire tourner en bourrique si tu ne te décides pas pour une robe !

turn 's head

(épater [qqn]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

make 's head spin

(soûler un peu)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

put a wash on, put a load of washing on

locution verbale (laver du linge à la machine) (UK)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

take a turn for the worse

locution verbale (événement : dégénérer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Les forces de l'ordre ont dû intervenir quand la manifestation a mal tourné.

go astray

locution verbale (personne : s'écarter du droit chemin)

Ce fils de médecin était gentil et studieux mais de par ses mauvaises fréquentations, il a mal tourné et il est maintenant en prison pour vol.

not run smoothly

locution verbale (figuré, familier (fonctionner anormalement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Cette horloge ne tourne pas rond.

have a screw loose

locution verbale (figuré, familier (personne : mal aller) (person)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Tu ne tournes pas rond, toi.

twiddle your thumbs

(figuré (ne rien faire, fainéanter) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

turn right

locution verbale (aller sur sa droite)

Son GPS lui a dit de tourner à droite au prochain carrefour.

turn left

locution verbale (aller sur sa gauche)

Le moniteur d'auto-école lui a demandé de tourner à gauche.

turn sour, go sour

locution verbale (prendre une mauvaise tournure) (figurative)

take a disastrous turn

locution verbale (devenir catastrophique)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be flat out, be at full capacity

locution verbale (fonctionner au maximum)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Le restaurant tourne à plein régime durant les week-ends.

turn to your advantage

locution verbale (devenir avantageux)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

run idle, tick over

locution verbale (fonctionner sans rien produire)

spin your wheels

locution verbale (figuré (travailler sans objectif) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

take a disastrous turn

locution verbale (virer à la catastrophe)

turn out to be to 's disadvantage, prove to be to 's disadvantage

locution verbale (s'avérer désavantageux pour [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

La négociation tourne au désavantage de l'acheteur.

turn into a fiasco

locution verbale (échouer totalement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

turn into a massacre

locution verbale (figuré (devenir catastrophique)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

just tick over

locution verbale (avoir un rendement minimum)

En ces temps économiques difficiles, notre magasin tourne au ralenti.

turn to vinegar, turn into vinegar

locution verbale (vin : se transformer en vinaigre, piquer) (wine)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

turn sour

locution verbale (familier, figuré (devenir problématique) (figurative)

turn around , go around

locution verbale (convoiter [qch])

Ce couple tourne autour de cette maison à vendre dans notre rue.

beat about the bush, beat around the bush

locution verbale (figuré (essayer de dire [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Dis-moi ce que tu veux au lieu de tourner autour du pot !

be a turncoat

locution verbale (changer d'avis par peur)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Les témoins ont tourné casaque par peur des représailles.

pace up and down like a caged lion

locution verbale (ne pas tenir en place)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

come to a sudden end

locution verbale (péjoratif (se terminer rapidement)

have no purchase

locution verbale (tourner sans accrocher)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Je n'ai pas pu resserrer la branche de mes lunettes parce que la vis tournait dans le vide.

be in a film

locution verbale (être acteur dans un film)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

faint

locution verbale (figuré (s'évanouir)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

be played on a loop

locution verbale (être diffusé inlassablement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Même si tu ne connais pas le titre, tu as forcément déjà entendu cette chanson parce qu'elle tourne en boucle sur toutes les radios.

mock, ridicule

locution verbale (ridiculiser)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

Le président a tourné en dérision la question du journaliste, afin de l'éluder.

ridicule

locution verbale (se moquer de [qqn/qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

go in circles, go round in circles

locution verbale (revenir sur ses pas)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Au bout de 2 heures de marche, les randonneurs se sont aperçus qu'ils tournaient en rond.

pace around

locution verbale (figuré (ne pas tenir en place)

J'en ai marre de tourner en rond chez moi, il faut que je trouve à m'occuper.

I'm tired of pacing around at home; I've got to find something to keep myself busy.

go round in circles, go round and round in circles

locution verbale (figuré (ne pas avancer) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Nous tournons en rond sur cette affaire.

over-rev

locution verbale (mécanique : fonctionner trop fort) (engine)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

Change de vitesse, cela tourne en surrégime.

go into overdrive

locution verbale (figuré (être saturé) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Notre équipe tourne en surrégime.

think twice before speaking, think twice before you speak

locution verbale (familier (réfléchir avant de parler)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

make a fresh start, put behind you

locution verbale (figuré (oublier le passé)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Ça ne sert à rien de ressasser cette histoire, il faut tourner la page.

turn your back to , turn your back on

(regarder dans la direction opposée) (movement)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Ne me tourne pas le dos quand je te parle ! Je n'ai pas vu le livreur arriver car je tournais le dos à la porte.

I didn't see the delivery driver arrive, because I had my back turned to the door.

turn your back on

(figuré (ne plus s'intéresser à [qch]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Julien a tourné le dos au cyclisme à cause du dopage.

turn your back on

(figuré (laisser tomber [qqn]) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Diane a tourné le dos à Damien à cause des mauvaises fréquentations de celui-ci.

show a clean pair of heels

locution verbale (s'en aller) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Après avoir payé, le client tourna les talons rapidement.

After he'd paid, the customer quickly turned around and walked away.

run smoothly

locution verbale (figuré, familier (fonctionner correctement)

Ça tourne rond, passons à la suite.

turn round, spin round

locution verbale (faire un tour complet) (once)

shoot a film

locution verbale (filmer des acteurs)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

draw a line under

locution verbale (figuré (passer à autre chose) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Cette histoire est terminée, il faut tourner une page.

That business is over; you need to draw a line under it.

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