doblar
verbCEFR B2
What does “doblar” mean in English?
to bend, to fold
to bend, to fold (physical — also: to double in quantity; to dub a film)
Example sentences
Dobla la hoja por la mitad y recorta siguiendo la línea punteada con cuidado.
Fold the sheet in half and cut along the dotted line carefully.
La compañía pretende doblar sus exportaciones en los próximos cinco años mediante la apertura de nuevos mercados.
The company intends to double its exports over the next five years by opening new markets.
El ciclista dobló la rodilla al caerse y tuvo que ser atendido de inmediato por el equipo médico.
The cyclist bent his knee when he fell and had to be treated immediately by the medical team.
How to use it
Doblar means 'to bend', 'to fold', or 'to double'. At B2, three senses are important: (1) to bend/fold physically (doblar el papel, doblar la rodilla); (2) to double in quantity (doblar la producción — double production); (3) to dub (doblar una película — to dub a film). Context disambiguates. The bending sense (sense 1) is the 'bend' equivalent; sense 2 is equally important at B2. Don't use doblar to mean 'to twist/wring' — that is torcer.
Common mistake
Doblar has three distinct meanings that the same form covers: bend/fold, double, and dub. Always check context. Doblar una película (dub a film) is a common everyday use in Spain and Latin America — 'la película está doblada al español' (the film is dubbed into Spanish). For 'bend' in the sense of deforming something under pressure, use doblar; for a sharp twist/wrench, use torcer.