tornar
“tornar” means “to return” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to return
Also: to give back, to do again
📝 In Action
Prometió tornar a su patria después de la guerra.
B1He promised to return to his homeland after the war.
El caballero tornó su espada a la vaina.
C1The knight returned his sword to its sheath.
Tornó a llover al atardecer.
B2It started raining again at sunset.
to turn
Also: to become
📝 In Action
Sus ojos se tornaron rojos por el cansancio.
B2His eyes turned red from tiredness.
La situación se tornó difícil de repente.
B2The situation became difficult all of a sudden.
El día se tornó gris.
B1The day turned gray.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: tornar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these is the most common way to say 'to return' in casual conversation?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'tornare', which meant to turn something on a lathe or to make something round. This eventually grew to mean 'turning back' or 'turning into something else' in Spanish.
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'tornar' the same as 'regresar'?
Yes, they both mean to return, but 'regresar' is more common in Latin America for everyday use, while 'tornar' is more literary.
Does 'tornado' come from 'tornar'?
Yes! A 'tornado' is named after the 'turning' or 'twisting' motion of the wind, which comes from the same Latin root as 'tornar'.
Can I use 'tornar' to return a book to the library?
Technically yes, but it sounds very old-fashioned. It is better to use 'devolver' for objects.