il tournait

was turning, turned

→ tourner
tourn to turn + ait he/she/it imperfect
verb · third singular · imperfect indicative Uncommon #19,680
was turning, turned Imperfect tense (past): often used for an ongoing action or background situation in the past.
FR: La roue tournait lentement.
EN: The wheel was turning slowly.
Conjugation of tourner
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
Third tournait

T’es une sorte de vieux cow-boy qui tournait des films là-bas?

Are you some kind of old cowboy who used to make movies over there?

— Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Et si ça tournait mal?

What if things went wrong?

— Les Anges déchus (1995)

En attendant la fin du monde, faisons comme s'il tournait.

While waiting for the end of the world, let’s pretend it’s turning.

— Avengers (2012)

La toupie tournait dangereusement près du bord de la table.

The top was spinning dangerously close to the edge of the table.

Il y avait quelque chose qui ne tournait pas rond avec lui.

There was something wrong with him.

Sa vie tournait autour de sa femme, Darla.

His life revolved around his wife, Darla.

— Wake Up Dead Man : Une histoire à couteaux tirés (2025)

Le vieil homme me tournait le dos.

The old man had his back to me.

À l'arrivée d'Henry, la tête me tournait.

When Henry arrived, I felt dizzy.

— Les Affranchis (1990)

J'ai jamais abordé une femme qui tournait dans tous les sens.

I've never approached a woman who was spinning around in all directions.

— Salyut-7 (2017)

Je savais que quelque chose ne tournait pas rond chez toi.

I knew something wasn't right with you.

— Ne Zha (2019)

Le loup tournait autour du lapin.

The wolf circled the rabbit.

Un cercle blanc qui tournait et devenait le logo.

A white circle that rotated and became the logo.

— On ne vit qu'une seule fois (2011)

Je vous ai dit que si ça tournait mal, je ne vous aiderais pas.

I told you that if things went wrong, I wouldn’t help you.

Je l'aperçus tandis qu'il tournait au coin.

I caught sight of him as he turned the corner.

Le compteur tournait!

The meter was running!

— Salé, Sucré (1994)

Et si, après tout ce que j'ai subi, ça tournait mal en moi?

What if, after everything I’ve been through, something had gone wrong inside me?

— Harry Potter et l'Ordre du Phénix (2007)

J'avais la tête qui tournait.

I felt dizzy.

— Douleur et gloire (2019)

Juste quand la chance tournait!

Just when his luck was turning!

— Lust, Caution (2007)

La tête me tournait.

My head was spinning.