vrteti

1. to turn; to spin
   Dete vrti točak na biciklu. — The child is spinning the bicycle wheel.
   Nervozno je vrtela prsten na prstu. — She was nervously turning the ring on her finger.
2. (+ instr.) to shake; to wag
   Samo je vrteo glavom i ćutao. — He just kept shaking his head and said nothing.
   Pas vrti repom kad me vidi. — The dog wags its tail when it sees me.
3. (vrteti se) to spin; to rotate; to revolve
   Zemlja se vrti oko Sunca. — The Earth revolves around the Sun.
   Deca su se vrtela na ringišpilu. — The kids were spinning around on the merry-go-round.
4. (vrteti se, of a person) to fidget; to squirm
   Prestani da se vrtiš na stolici! — Stop fidgeting on your chair!
   Celu noć sam se vrteo u krevetu. — I was tossing and turning in bed all night.
5. (vrteti se oko + gen.) to revolve around
   Kod njih se sve vrti oko novca. — With them, everything revolves around money.
6. colloq. (of music, films) to play over and over
   Radio stalno vrti tu pesmu. — The radio keeps playing that song over and over.

"To shake one's head" is usually vrteti glavom, with the instrumental.