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How to conjugate Volver in Spanish

volver to return, to come back Irregular Verb Top 100

At a glance: Volver (to return, to come back) is one of the most common irregular verbs in Spanish. In the present tense: vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, volvemos, volvéis, vuelven. Yo, tú, ella/él and ellas/ellos change o to ue (vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, vuelven); nosotros and vosotros are regular. It is also irregular in the present subjunctive (vuelva) and past participle (vuelto).

Past participle
vuelto returned
Gerund
volviendo returning
Similar
regresar (to return)

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Indicative tenses of Volver

Volver in the Indicative Present

The Indicative Present of volver is used to talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths. For example, “vuelvo en dos días”, meaning “I return in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present is known as "El Presente".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YovuelvoI return
Túvuelvesyou return
Ella / Él / Ustedvuelves/he returns
Nosotras / Nosotrosvolvemoswe return
Vosotras / Vosotrosvolvéisyou (plural) return
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvuelventhey return

How it’s built: Yo, tú, ella/él and ellas/ellos change o to ue (vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, vuelven); nosotros and vosotros are regular.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Volver in the Indicative Preterite

The Indicative Preterite of volver is used to talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time. For example, “volví en dos días”, meaning “I returned in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Preterite is known as "El Pretérito Indefinido".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YovolvíI returned
Túvolvisteyou returned
Ella / Él / Ustedvolviós/he returned
Nosotras / Nosotrosvolvimoswe returned
Vosotras / Vosotrosvolvisteisyou (plural) returned
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvolvieronthey returned

How it’s built: Regular: stem volv- plus the -er endings.

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Volver in the Indicative Imperfect

The Indicative Imperfect of volver is used to describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do. For example, “volvía en dos días”, meaning “I used to return in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Imperfect is known as "El Pretérito Imperfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YovolvíaI used to return
Túvolvíasyou used to return
Ella / Él / Ustedvolvías/he used to return
Nosotras / Nosotrosvolvíamoswe used to return
Vosotras / Vosotrosvolvíaisyou (plural) used to return
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvolvíanthey used to return

How it’s built: Regular: stem volv- plus the -er endings.

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Volver in the Indicative Present Continuous

The Indicative Present Continuous of volver is used to talk about something that is happening continuously or right now. For example, “estoy volviendo en dos días”, meaning “I am returning in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present Continuous is known as "El Presente Progresivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yoestoy volviendoI am returning
Túestás volviendoyou are returning
Ella / Él / Ustedestá volviendos/he is returning
Nosotras / Nosotrosestamos volviendowe are returning
Vosotras / Vosotrosestáis volviendoyou (plural) are returning
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesestán volviendothey are returning

How it’s built: Estar in the present (estoy, estás, está, estamos, estáis, están) plus the gerund volviendo.

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Volver in the Indicative Informal Future

The Indicative Informal Future of volver is used to talk about something that will happen in the future, especially in the near future. For example, “voy a volver en dos días”, meaning “I am going to return in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Informal Future is known as "El Futuro Próximo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yovoy a volverI am going to return
Túvas a volveryou are going to return
Ella / Él / Ustedva a volvers/he is going to return
Nosotras / Nosotrosvamos a volverwe are going to return
Vosotras / Vosotrosvais a volveryou (plural) are going to return
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvan a volverthey are going to return

How it’s built: Ir in the present (voy, vas, va, vamos, vais, van), then a, then the infinitive volver.

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Volver in the Indicative Future

The Indicative Future of volver is used to talk about something that will happen in the future. For example, “volveré en dos días”, meaning “I will return in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Future is known as "El Futuro Simple".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YovolveréI will return
Túvolverásyou will return
Ella / Él / Ustedvolverás/he will return
Nosotras / Nosotrosvolveremoswe will return
Vosotras / Vosotrosvolveréisyou (plural) will return
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvolveránthey will return

How it’s built: Regular: the infinitive volver plus the future endings.

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Volver in the Indicative Conditional

The Indicative Conditional of volver is used to talk about something that may happen in the future, hypothesis and probabilities. For example, “volvería en dos días”, meaning “I would return in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional is known as "El Condicional Simple".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YovolveríaI would return
Túvolveríasyou would return
Ella / Él / Ustedvolverías/he would return
Nosotras / Nosotrosvolveríamoswe would return
Vosotras / Vosotrosvolveríaisyou (plural) would return
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvolveríanthey would return

How it’s built: Regular: the infinitive volver plus the conditional endings.

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Volver in the Indicative Present Perfect

The Indicative Present Perfect of volver is used to describe actions that started recently (in the past) and are still happening now or things that have been done recently. For example, “he vuelto en dos días”, meaning “I have returned in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohe vueltoI have returned
Túhas vueltoyou have returned
Ella / Él / Ustedha vueltos/he has returned
Nosotras / Nosotroshemos vueltowe have returned
Vosotras / Vosotroshabéis vueltoyou (plural) have returned
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshan vueltothey have returned

How it’s built: Haber in the present (he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han) plus the irregular past participle vuelto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Volver in the Indicative Past Perfect

The Indicative Past Perfect of volver is used to talk about actions that happened before another action in the past. For example, “había vuelto en dos días”, meaning “I had returned in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabía vueltoI had returned
Túhabías vueltoyou had returned
Ella / Él / Ustedhabía vueltos/he had returned
Nosotras / Nosotroshabíamos vueltowe had returned
Vosotras / Vosotroshabíais vueltoyou (plural) had returned
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabían vueltothey had returned

How it’s built: Haber in the imperfect (había, habías, había, habíamos, habíais, habían) plus the irregular past participle vuelto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Volver in the Indicative Future Perfect

The Indicative Future Perfect of volver is used to talk about something that will have happened in the future after something else has already happened. For example, “habré vuelto en dos días”, meaning “I will have returned in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabré vueltoI will have returned
Túhabrás vueltoyou will have returned
Ella / Él / Ustedhabrá vueltos/he will have returned
Nosotras / Nosotroshabremos vueltowe will have returned
Vosotras / Vosotroshabréis vueltoyou (plural) will have returned
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabrán vueltothey will have returned

How it’s built: Haber in the future (habré, habrás, habrá, habremos, habréis, habrán) plus the irregular past participle vuelto.

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Volver in the Indicative Conditional Perfect

The Indicative Conditional Perfect of volver is used to talk about something that would have happened in the past but didn’t due to another action. For example, “habría vuelto en dos días”, meaning “I would have returned in two days”.

In Spanish, the Indicative Conditional Perfect is known as "El Condicional Perfecto".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohabría vueltoI would have returned
Túhabrías vueltoyou would have returned
Ella / Él / Ustedhabría vueltos/he would have returned
Nosotras / Nosotroshabríamos vueltowe would have returned
Vosotras / Vosotroshabríais vueltoyou (plural) would have returned
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshabrían vueltothey would have returned

How it’s built: Haber in the conditional (habría, habrías, habría, habríamos, habríais, habrían) plus the irregular past participle vuelto.

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Subjunctive tenses of Volver

Volver in the Subjunctive Present

The Subjunctive Present is used to talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about. For example, “vuelva”, meaning “I return”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present is known as "El Presente de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YovuelvaI return
Túvuelvasyou return
Ella / Él / Ustedvuelvas/he returns
Nosotras / Nosotrosvolvamoswe return
Vosotras / Vosotrosvolváisyou (plural) return
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvuelvanthey return

How it’s built: Yo, tú, ella/él and ellas/ellos follow the yo present, vuelvo (vuelva, vuelvas, vuelva, vuelvan); nosotros and vosotros are regular.

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Volver in the Subjunctive Imperfect

The Subjunctive Imperfect is used to speak about unlikely or uncertain events in the past or to cast an opinion (emotional) about something that happened in the past. For example, “volviera”, meaning “I returned”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Imperfect is known as "El Imperfecto Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YovolvieraI returned
Túvolvierasyou returned
Ella / Él / Ustedvolvieras/he returned
Nosotras / Nosotrosvolviéramoswe returned
Vosotras / Vosotrosvolvieraisyou (plural) returned
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvolvieranthey returned

How it’s built: Regular: the ellas/ellos preterite, volvieron, without -ron, plus the -ra endings; nosotros adds an accent (volviéramos).

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Volver in the Subjunctive Future

The Subjunctive Future is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that may happen in the future. For example, “volviere”, meaning “I will return”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future is known as "El Futuro de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
YovolviereI will return
Túvolvieresyou will return
Ella / Él / Ustedvolvieres/he will return
Nosotras / Nosotrosvolviéremoswe will return
Vosotras / Vosotrosvolviereisyou (plural) will return
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvolvierenthey will return

How it’s built: Regular: the ellas/ellos preterite, volvieron, without -ron, plus the -re endings; nosotros adds an accent (volviéremos).

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Volver in the Subjunctive Present Perfect

The Subjunctive Present Perfect is used to describe past actions or events that are still connected to the present day and to speak about an action that will have happened by a certain time in the future. For example, “haya vuelto”, meaning “I have returned”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Present Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohaya vueltoI have returned
Túhayas vueltoyou have returned
Ella / Él / Ustedhaya vueltos/he has returned
Nosotras / Nosotroshayamos vueltowe have returned
Vosotras / Vosotroshayáis vueltoyou (plural) have returned
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshayan vueltothey have returned

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive present (haya, hayas, haya, hayamos, hayáis, hayan) plus the irregular past participle vuelto.

Letters in red show where a form differs from the regular pattern.

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Volver in the Subjunctive Past Perfect

The Subjunctive Past Perfect is used to speak about hypothetical situations, and actions/events that occurred before other actions/events in the past. For example, “hubiera vuelto”, meaning “I had returned”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Past Perfect is known as "El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohubiera vueltoI had returned
Túhubieras vueltoyou had returned
Ella / Él / Ustedhubiera vueltos/he had returned
Nosotras / Nosotroshubiéramos vueltowe had returned
Vosotras / Vosotroshubierais vueltoyou (plural) had returned
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshubieran vueltothey had returned

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive imperfect (hubiera, hubieras, hubiera, hubiéramos, hubierais, hubieran) plus the irregular past participle vuelto.

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Volver in the Subjunctive Future Perfect

The Subjunctive Future Perfect is used to speak about something that will have happened if a hypothetical situations occurs in the future. For example, “hubiere vuelto”, meaning “I will have returned”.

In Spanish, the Subjunctive Future Perfect is known as "El Futuro Perfecto de Subjuntivo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yohubiere vueltoI will have returned
Túhubieres vueltoyou will have returned
Ella / Él / Ustedhubiere vueltos/he will have returned
Nosotras / Nosotroshubiéremos vueltowe will have returned
Vosotras / Vosotroshubiereis vueltoyou (plural) will have returned
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedeshubieren vueltothey will have returned

How it’s built: Haber in the subjunctive future (hubiere, hubieres, hubiere, hubiéremos, hubiereis, hubieren) plus the irregular past participle vuelto.

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Imperative tenses of Volver

Volver in the Imperative Affirmative

The Imperative Affirmative is used to give orders and commands, to tell someone to do something. For example, “vuelva”, meaning “(to you formal) return!”.

In Spanish, the Imperative Affirmative is known as "El Imperativo Afirmativo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yo--
Túvuelve(to you) return!
Ella / Él / Ustedvuelva(to you formal) return!
Nosotras / Nosotrosvolvamoslet's return!
Vosotras / Vosotrosvolved(to you plural) return!
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesvuelvan(to you plural formal) return!

How it’s built: Tú takes the ella/él present (vuelve); usted, nosotros and ustedes take the subjunctive present (vuelva, volvamos, vuelvan); vosotros swaps the final r of the infinitive for a d (volved).

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Volver in the Imperative Negative

The Imperative Negative is used to give orders and commands, telling someone not to do something. For example, “no vuelva”, meaning “(to you formal) don't return!”.

In Spanish, the Imperative Negative is known as "El Imperativo Negativo".

PronounSpanishEnglish
Yo--
Túno vuelvas(to you) don't return!
Ella / Él / Ustedno vuelva(to you formal) don't return!
Nosotras / Nosotrosno volvamoslet's not return!
Vosotras / Vosotrosno volváis(to you plural) don't return!
Ellas / Ellos / Ustedesno vuelvan(to you plural formal) don't return!

How it’s built: No plus the subjunctive present: no vuelvas, no vuelva, no volvamos, no volváis, no vuelvan.

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Example sentences and usage

  • ¿Cuándo volverás?" "Todo depende del clima. When will you be back?" "It all depends on the weather.
  • Tú te debes quedar aquí hasta que nosotros volvamos. You are to stay here until we come back.
  • Tu sueño algún día se volverá realidad. Your dream will come true some day.
  • Vuelve a tu sitio. Go back to your seat.
  • Me quedo aquí hasta que vuelvas. I'll stay here till you get back.
  • Por favor termina tus vacaciones y vuelve. Please cut short your vacation and return.
  • Él estaba tan triste que casi se volvió loco. He was so sad that he almost went mad.

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Frequently asked questions about Volver

Is volver a regular or irregular verb?

Volver is an irregular Spanish verb. In the present tense: yo, tú, ella/él and ellas/ellos change o to ue (vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, vuelven); nosotros and vosotros are regular. It is also irregular in the present subjunctive (vuelva) and past participle (vuelto).

How do you conjugate volver in the present tense (presente)?

In the present tense (presente), volver is conjugated as: yo vuelvo, tú vuelves, él/ella/usted vuelve, nosotros volvemos, vosotros volvéis, ellos/ellas/ustedes vuelven. The present tense is used To talk about situations, events or thoughts that are happening now or in the near future. It is also used to talk about facts and truths.

How do you conjugate volver in the preterite (pretérito indefinido)?

In the preterite (pretérito indefinido), volver is conjugated as: yo volví, tú volviste, él/ella/usted volvió, nosotros volvimos, vosotros volvisteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes volvieron. The preterite is used To talk about actions completed in the past, at a specific point in time.

How do you conjugate volver in the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto)?

In the imperfect (pretérito imperfecto), volver is conjugated as: yo volvía, tú volvías, él/ella/usted volvía, nosotros volvíamos, vosotros volvíais, ellos/ellas/ustedes volvían. The imperfect is used To describe regular and repeated actions that happened in the past and descriptions of things you used to do.

How do you conjugate volver in the future tense (futuro simple)?

In the future tense (futuro simple), volver is conjugated as: yo volveré, tú volverás, él/ella/usted volverá, nosotros volveremos, vosotros volveréis, ellos/ellas/ustedes volverán. The future tense is used To talk about something that will happen in the future.

How do you conjugate volver in the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente)?

In the present subjunctive (subjuntivo presente), volver is conjugated as: yo vuelva, tú vuelvas, él/ella/usted vuelva, nosotros volvamos, vosotros volváis, ellos/ellas/ustedes vuelvan. The present subjunctive is used To talk about situations of uncertainty, or emotions such as wishes, desires and hopes. It differs from the indicative mood due to the uncertainty of the events which are being spoken about.

What’s the difference between volver and volverse?

Volver means ‘to return, to come back’ and volverse means ‘to become, to turn’. Volverse is the reflexive form of volver, so it always takes a reflexive pronoun – me, te, se, nos, os or se – that matches the subject. The verb itself is conjugated the same way: in the present tense, yo vuelvo becomes me vuelvo. In the affirmative tú imperative the pronoun attaches to the end of the verb, so vuelve becomes vuélvete.

What are some common example sentences using volver?

Here are everyday sentences using volver: ¿Cuándo volverás?" "Todo depende del clima. (When will you be back?" "It all depends on the weather.) Tú te debes quedar aquí hasta que nosotros volvamos. (You are to stay here until we come back.) Tu sueño algún día se volverá realidad. (Your dream will come true some day.) Vuelve a tu sitio. (Go back to your seat.) Me quedo aquí hasta que vuelvas. (I'll stay here till you get back.)


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Want to explore other verb conjugations?

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