Volante

Volante is a term with multiple meanings across languages and fields, and it is used in everyday speech as well as in specialized contexts.

In Spanish and Portuguese, volante commonly refers to two things. The steering wheel of a vehicle is called el volante or o volante. The word also denotes a flyer or pamphlet, an inexpensive printed advertisement often distributed in streets or at events. These senses are distinct but share the same basic word form in both languages.

In sports, particularly Brazilian Portuguese, volante designates a midfield position. A volante is typically a defensive or central midfielder who plays a role in breaking up opposition plays and connecting defense with attack.

In Italian, volante means “steering wheel.” The term is also seen in branding and auto journalism, where it can appear in model names or descriptions related to convertible or sporty variants. In English-language automotive usage, Volante has been adopted as a model-name element by several manufacturers to signal a convertible or refined, driver-focused trim. Notable examples include the Ferrari Daytona Volante (a convertible version of the 365 GTB/4 Daytona) and the Bentley Continental Volante, which denotes the drop-top variant of that model line.

Etymology generally traces volante to the Romance-language roots related to flight or movement, with the Italian sense as steering wheel, and the broader flyer/leaflet sense arising in other Romance languages.

Volante thus spans practical devices (steering wheels), printed media (leaflets), sports terminology (midfielder), and automotive branding (convertible variants), reflecting its diverse usage across cultures and industries.