volvieron
/vol-VYEH-ron/
they returned
Volvieron means "they returned" or "they came back."
volvieron(Verb)
they returned
?came back to a place
,you all returned
?ustedes form, came back to a place
they came back
?arrived again
📝 In Action
Mis padres volvieron de su viaje ayer.
A2My parents returned from their trip yesterday.
¿A qué hora volvieron ustedes del concierto?
A2What time did you all return from the concert?
Volvieron a empezar el proyecto porque la primera versión estaba mal.
B1They started the project again because the first version was wrong.
💡 Grammar Points
Use of the Preterite Tense
"Volvieron" uses the simple past (preterite) tense, which tells you the action of returning started and finished at a specific point in the past.
Volver a + Infinitive
When you see 'volvieron a' followed by another verb (e.g., 'volvieron a llamar'), it means 'they did something again' or 'they repeated the action'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Volver and Devolver
Mistake: "Using 'volvieron' when you mean 'they gave back' (an object)."
Correction: Use 'devolvieron' (they returned/gave back) for objects, and 'volvieron' for people returning to a place. E.g., 'Devolvieron el libro.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Emphasis on Completion
Use 'volvieron' when the return was a single, completed event. If you want to describe the ongoing state of them returning over a period of time, use the imperfect: 'volvían'.
Volvieron can also mean "they turned" or "they changed direction."
volvieron(Verb)
they turned
?rotated or changed direction
,they flipped
?turned an object over
they reversed
?changed direction back
📝 In Action
Los ciclistas volvieron la esquina rápidamente.
B1The cyclists turned the corner quickly.
Volvieron la tortilla para que se cocinara por el otro lado.
B2They flipped the omelet so it would cook on the other side.
Volvieron sus cabezas para ver el accidente.
B1They turned their heads to see the accident.
💡 Grammar Points
Transitive Use
In this meaning, 'volvieron' usually needs a direct object (the thing being turned), like 'la tortilla' or 'la cabeza'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Volverse' for Turning
Mistake: "Using the reflexive form 'se volvieron' when you mean 'they turned an object'."
Correction: The non-reflexive 'volvieron' is used for turning objects. The reflexive 'se volvieron' means 'they became' or 'they physically turned around themselves'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Directional Focus
This sense is often used with directional words like 'la esquina' (the corner) or 'la página' (the page).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: volvieron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'volvieron' to mean 'they repeated an action'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'volvieron' and 'regresaron'?
Both mean 'they returned,' and they are usually interchangeable. 'Volvieron' (from 'volver') is slightly more common and versatile, as 'volver' also has the meaning of 'to turn' or 'to do again,' while 'regresar' strictly means 'to return to a place.'
Why is the preterite conjugation of 'volver' (volvieron) regular, but the present tense (vuelven) is irregular?
This is common in Spanish. 'Volver' is a stem-changing verb (o > ue) in the present tense, but in the preterite tense, the stem 'volv-' is maintained and it follows the standard '-er' verb endings, making it look regular in the past simple.