Learn Spanish (Latin America): Lo importante es ejecutar el giro. - The important thing is to execute the turn.

In Spanish, when you want to express the idea of 'the [adjective] thing', you use the neuter article lo followed by the masculine singular form of the adjective. So, lo importante translates perfectly to 'the important thing' or 'what is important'. If you said el importante, it would refer to a specific masculine noun, like 'the important man'.

Why is the verb ejecutar left in the infinitive here instead of being conjugated?

In Spanish, the infinitive form of a verb acts as a noun. Here, ejecutar functions as the core idea of what 'the important thing' is. Unlike English, which sometimes uses an '-ing' word like 'executing' for this, Spanish always uses the infinitive when a verb is acting as a noun concept.

Why do we use es instead of está for 'is' in this sentence?

The verb ser is used to equate two things or define a concept. Here, the sentence sets up a direct equation: 'the important thing' equals 'to execute the turn'. Whenever you link a subject to its definition or core identity, you use ser (conjugated here as es), rather than estar.

Does the word giro mean anything else besides a physical 'turn'?

Yes. While giro often means a physical turn or rotation, such as in driving or dancing, it is also commonly used for abstract concepts. For example, it can mean a 'turn of events', a bank transfer, or a specific figure of speech.