A solitary person is walking along a winding path, clearly heading toward a brightly lit, welcoming home in the distance, illustrating the action of returning.

regrese

rre-GRÉ-se

Return!?Formal command (usted),that I return?Subjunctive use (yo),that he/she/you return?Subjunctive use (él/ella/usted)

Also:go back?General meaning of the root verb

Quick Reference

infinitiveregresar

gerundregresando

past Participleregresado

📝 In Action

Por favor, regrese a la caja con su recibo.

Please, return to the register with your receipt.

No quiero que regrese a la ciudad. Es peligroso.

I don't want him/her to return to the city. It's dangerous.

Dudo que yo regrese antes de medianoche.

I doubt that I will return before midnight.

Word Connections

Synonyms

volver (to return (often used for people))
retornar (to return)

Antonyms

irse (to leave)
partir (to depart)

Common Collocations

que regrese pronto – that he/she/you return soon
regrese a casa – return home (formal command)

💡 Grammar Points

The Formal Command

When you want to give a polite, formal instruction to someone you address as 'usted,' you use this special verb form: 'Regrese' (Return!).

The Subjunctive Trigger

'Regrese' is the special verb form (the subjunctive) required after verbs that express wishes, desires, or doubt, such as 'Espero que...' (I hope that...) or 'Dudo que...' (I doubt that...).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing Command Forms

Mistake: "Using the informal command for a formal person: 'Señor, regresa mañana.'"

Correction: Always use 'regrese' for the formal 'usted' command: 'Señor, regrese mañana.' The forms must match.

⭐ Usage Tips

Remember the -AR Rule

For regular verbs ending in -AR (like regresar), the subjunctive and formal command forms switch to the 'E' ending: regresar -> regrese.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: regrese

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'regrese' correctly as a formal command?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

regresar(to return) - infinitive verb

regreso(return (the act of returning)) - noun

regresivo(regressive) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the formal command ('usted') look exactly like the 'yo' form of the subjunctive?

This is a key pattern in Spanish! The formal commands (usted/ustedes) are actually borrowed directly from the present subjunctive form. So, when you learn the present subjunctive ('yo regrese'), you automatically know the formal command ('¡Regrese usted!').

How do I know if 'regrese' means 'I return' or 'he returns'?

You must look at the context and the subject of the sentence. If the sentence starts with 'Yo no creo que...' (I don't believe that...), the hidden subject is usually 'yo.' If the sentence refers to a third person ('Mi jefe no quiere que...'), the subject is 'él/ella.'