verb
to turn (something) over, to turn around
B1
Umdrehen: to turn something over or to turn around. It’s a separable verb (drehe ... um) and regular, forming perfekt with haben (umgedreht). Transitive use means 'flip/turn over'; reflexive use (sich umdrehen) means 'turn oneself around'. No special preposition required.
Examples
Ich habe mich umgedreht.
I turned around.
Er drehte sich um, als er das Geräusch hörte.
He turned around when he heard the noise.
Ich drehe mich um.
I turn around.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture flipping a pancake: you 'turn it over' with a quick twist
Think 'undo + drehen' — like turning something back or over
Notes
A separable verb. In main clauses the prefix 'um' separates to the end (ich drehe das Blatt um). Past participle is umgedreht (ge goes between prefix and stem).