somersault
gb/sˈʌmɚsˌɔlt/ us/sˈʌmɚsˌɔlt/
B1
English
bukfenc, szaltó, bukfencezik, szaltót ugrik, fordulat, pálfordulás, nagyot fordul, átcsap
NOUN
B1
1
Usage pattern:
do a somersault; perform a somersault
The gymnast did a somersault and stuck the landing.
A tornász szaltót ugrott, és stabilan érkezett.
The kids were doing somersaults on the lawn.
A gyerekek bukfenceket vetettek a gyepen.
He tried a somersault in the pool and splashed everyone.
Learner examples
She can do a somersault.
Tud bukfencet vetni.
The boy did two somersaults.
A fiú két bukfencet vetett.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse a somersault (head-over-heels) with a cartwheel (sideways). Spelling is often confused with the joke form “summer salt”.
Meaning
a complete roll head over heels
Collocations
do a somersault
|perform a somersault
|a forward somersault
|a backward somersault
|an aerial somersault
|attempt a somersault
|land a somersault
|a perfect somersault
|a clumsy somersault
|somersault practice
Synonyms
flip (More informal; often suggests an aerial move.)
|
tumble (More general and can include many kinds of rolling or falling.)
|
roll (Often suggests staying on the ground rather than flipping in the air.)
Themes
sports
|fitness
|movement
Definition
A movement where you roll or flip so your feet go over your head.
A movement in which a person turns their body over completely so that their head and feet change places, rolling on the ground or flipping through the air.
VERB
B2
2
bukfencezik
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] somersaults; somersault over/through [something]
The diver somersaulted off the board and entered the water cleanly.
A műugró szaltózva ugrott le az ugródeszkáról, és tisztán ért vízbe.
He tripped on the step and somersaulted down the slope.
Megbotlott a lépcsőfokban, és bukfencezve gurult le a lejtőn.
The acrobat somersaulted through the hoop.
Learner examples
He somersaulted into the pool.
Szaltót ugrott a medencébe.
Common mistake:
In American English, “somersault” is more common than “somersaulting” as a noun; use “do a somersault” rather than trying to make a verb from the noun in every context.
Meaning
turn over head over heels
Collocations
somersault over a fence
|somersault into the air
|somersault down a hill
|somersault off the diving board
|somersault safely
|somersault awkwardly
|somersault repeatedly
Synonyms
flip (Often implies a quick aerial rotation.)
|
tumble (Can suggest uncontrolled rolling or falling.)
Themes
sports
|fitness
|movement
Definition
To roll or flip so your feet go over your head.
To turn over completely so that the head and feet switch positions, especially in a quick roll or flip.
NOUN
C1
3
fordulat
B1
pálfordulás
C1
Usage pattern:
a somersault in [something]; do a somersault
The company’s fortunes took a somersault after the scandal.
A botrány után hirtelen nagy fordulatot vett a vállalat sorsa.
Voters watched the minister’s sudden somersault on the issue with disbelief.
A választók hitetlenkedve figyelték a miniszter hirtelen pálfordulását az ügyben.
There’s been a somersault in public opinion since the report was released.
Learner examples
His opinion did a somersault after the meeting.
A megbeszélés után gyökeresen megváltozott a véleménye.
Common mistake:
This figurative meaning is common in writing and journalism, but it can sound dramatic in everyday conversation; “sudden change” or “reversal” may sound more neutral.
Meaning
sudden complete change
Collocations
a political somersault
|a sudden somersault
|a complete somersault
|a somersault in policy
|a somersault in public opinion
|a somersault in fortunes
|an ideological somersault
Synonyms
reversal (Neutral and common for a change to the opposite direction.)
|
turnaround (Often suggests improvement after a bad period.)
|
U-turn (Informal; emphasizes changing a decision or position.)
Antonyms
stability (No major change in direction or situation.)
|
consistency (Staying with the same view or approach over time.)
Themes
daily_life
|emotions
|news
Definition
A sudden big change, often to the opposite.
A sudden and complete change in direction, opinion, situation, or fortune; a dramatic reversal.
VERB
C1
4
átcsap
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] somersaults; somersault into/from [something]
Shares somersaulted after the unexpected announcement.
A váratlan bejelentés után hirtelen nagyot estek a részvényárfolyamok.
The conversation somersaulted from jokes to accusations in seconds.
A beszélgetés másodpercek alatt viccelődésből vádaskodásba csapott át.
His mood somersaulted when he saw the message.
Common mistake:
This use is figurative and less common in everyday speech; it’s more typical in headlines or commentary.
Meaning
change suddenly and completely
Collocations
profits somersault
|prices somersault
|the market somersaulted
|somersault into a loss
|somersault from victory to defeat
Synonyms
reverse (More direct and less vivid.)
|
swing (Suggests a noticeable change, often back and forth.)
Antonyms
remain steady (Not changing much over time.)
Themes
business
|news
|daily_life
Definition
To change suddenly in a big way.
To change suddenly and completely, especially in a way that looks like a dramatic reversal.
Grammar
Dictionary form
somersault
IPA
GB/sˈʌmɚsˌɔlt/
US/sˈʌmɚsˌɔlt/
Syllables & stress
somer - sault (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (somer)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: somersault
- Plural: somersaults
Verb
- Base: somersault
- 3rd Person Singular: somersaults
- Present Participle: somersaulting
- Past: somersaulted
Expressions
[someone’s] stomach does somersaults
1/sˈʌmwˌʌnz stˈʌmək dˈʌz sˈʌmɚsˌɔlts/
idiom
feel nervous or excited
To feel very nervous or excited in your stomach.
Examples
- My stomach did somersaults as I walked onto the stage.
- Her stomach does somersaults every time her phone rings late at night.
- My stomach was doing somersaults before the interview.
Learner examples
- My stomach did somersaults before the exam.
make [someone’s] stomach do somersaults
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌnz stˈʌmək dˈu sˈʌmɚsˌɔlts/
idiom
cause nervous excitement
To make someone feel very nervous or excited.
Examples
- Horror movies make my stomach do somersaults.
- The thought of speaking first made his stomach do somersaults.
- That email subject line made my stomach do somersaults.
Learner examples
- That noise made my stomach do somersaults.