rovesciare

to overturn

verb roh-veh-SHAH-reh Rare

Origin: From ri- + versare (to pour), influenced by rovescio (reverse, back side).

Also means

to spill

Usage Note

Rovesciare can mean to overturn a container (rovesciare un bicchiere = to knock over a glass, causing a spill), to overthrow a government (rovesciare il governo), or to reverse/flip something. Context disambiguates. It takes avere; the reflexive rovesciarsi means 'to tip over' or 'to capsize' (of a boat).

Examples

"Ho rovesciato il caffè sul tavolo."

Natural Translation

I spilled the coffee on the table.

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