tourbillonner

to swirl, to whirl

verb toor-bee-yo-NAY Rare

Also means

to spin in a vortex

Usage Note

Tourbillonner comes from tourbillon (whirlwind, vortex) and describes rapid spinning or swirling motion — of leaves, snow, dancers, or thoughts. It is vivid literary vocabulary. Les pensées tourbillonnaient dans sa tête (thoughts were swirling in her head) is a typical figurative use.

Examples

"Les feuilles mortes tourbillonnent dans le vent."

Natural Translation

The dead leaves swirl in the wind.

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