Inklingo
A friendly person handing a red book back to another person who is reaching out to receive it.

devuelva

deh-BWEHL-bah

verbB1irregular (stem-changing) er
return / give back?giving an object back to its owner
Also:refund?returning money for a purchase,vomit?to throw up (less common, mostly used in Spain)

Quick Reference

gerunddevolviendo
past Participledevuelto
infinitivedevolver

📝 In Action

Espero que él me devuelva el libro mañana.

B1

I hope he returns the book to me tomorrow.

Por favor, devuelva este producto en la caja central.

A2

Please, return (formal 'you') this product at the main counter.

Dudo que la tienda me devuelva el dinero.

B1

I doubt the store will give me my money back.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • restituya (to restore/repay)
  • reembolse (to refund)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • devuelva el favorreturn the favor
  • devuelva la llamadareturn the call
  • devuelva el dinerorefund the money

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Switch' Word

Notice the 'e' changes to 'ue'. This happens in many Spanish verbs when the stress falls on the stem. It's a common pattern to look out for!

Wishes and Orders

This specific form (devuelva) is used when you are telling someone formally to do something, or when you are expressing a wish that someone else does the action.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Returning People vs. Objects

Mistake: "Using 'volver' to return a library book."

Correction: Use 'devolver' for objects. Use 'volver' only for people returning to a place.

⭐ Usage Tips

Polite Commands

If you are at a store and need to be polite, use 'devuelva' (usted) instead of 'devuelve' (tú). It sounds much more professional.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdevolvieran
yodevolviera
devolvieras
vosotrosdevolvierais
nosotrosdevolviéramos
él/ella/usteddevolviera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdevuelvan
yodevuelva
devuelvas
vosotrosdevolváis
nosotrosdevolvamos
él/ella/usteddevuelva

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesdevolvieron
yodevolví
devolviste
vosotrosdevolvisteis
nosotrosdevolvimos
él/ella/usteddevolvió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesdevolvían
yodevolvía
devolvías
vosotrosdevolvíais
nosotrosdevolvíamos
él/ella/usteddevolvía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdevuelven
yodevuelvo
devuelves
vosotrosdevolvéis
nosotrosdevolvemos
él/ella/usteddevuelve

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: devuelva

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'devuelva' correctly as a formal request?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

devolver(to return) - verb
devuelto(returned) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'devuelve' and 'devuelva'?

'Devuelve' is a simple statement (He returns the book). 'Devuelva' is used for formal commands or when expressing a wish, doubt, or request (I want him to return the book).

Can I use 'devuelva' for returning a person to their home?

No. Use 'devolver' for objects. For people going back somewhere, use 'volver'.