puerta giratoria
Lemma Details
Translation: revolving door; rotating door
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Compound of 'puerta' (door) from Latin 'porta' and 'giratoria' (rotating) from Latin 'gyratorius', derived from 'gyrare' (to turn in a circle). The English cognate 'gyrate' shares the same Latin root, as does 'gyroscope'. The concept of a revolving door was patented in 1888 by Theophilus Van Kannel in Philadelphia as a way to prevent drafts, dust, and noise from entering buildings.
Commonality: 60%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
El hotel tiene una puerta giratoria en la entrada principal.
The hotel has a revolving door at the main entrance.
Quedó atrapado en la puerta giratoria con todas sus maletas.
He got stuck in the revolving door with all his suitcases.
El fenómeno de la puerta giratoria entre política y empresas es muy criticado.
The revolving door phenomenon between politics and business is heavily criticized.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'giratoria' as related to 'gyrate' in English - both involve circular motion.
- Imagine a 'pure' (puerta) 'gyration' (giratoria) as you spin through the door.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish political discourse, 'puerta giratoria' is frequently used metaphorically to criticize the movement of politicians to high-paying private sector jobs after leaving public office, especially in industries they previously regulated. This phenomenon is particularly controversial in Spain and Latin American countries.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'puerta giratoria' refers to a door that rotates around a central axis, 'puerta corredera' refers to a sliding door that moves horizontally along a track.
Confused word:
Instalamos puertas correderas para ahorrar espacio en el apartamento.
We installed sliding doors to save space in the apartment.
Notes: Revolving doors are typically found in commercial buildings, hotels, and airports, while sliding doors are common in homes, patios, and closets.
Mnemonic: Think of 'giratoria' as 'gyrating' (spinning) and 'corredera' as 'corriendo' (running) horizontally.