drehen
Translation
to turn, to spin, to rotate, to shoot (a film)
Examples
Er dreht den Kopf nach links.
He turns his head to the left.
Die Erde dreht sich um die Sonne.
The Earth revolves around the sun.
Sie dreht einen Dokumentarfilm.
She is shooting a documentary film.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to turn sth. Er dreht den Kopf.
sich4 to turn (oneself), to spin. Das Rad dreht sich.
((einen Film)) to shoot a film. Sie dreht einen Film.
sich4 ((um et4)) to revolve around sth. Die Erde dreht sich um die Sonne.
Similar Words
Synonyms: wenden (to turn over), rotieren (to rotate).
Etymology
From Old High German 'drāen', related to the English 'throw' in the sense of a potter's wheel.
Memory Tips
Imagine a DJ 'draying' a record to spin it, which sounds like 'drehen'.