volvieron
“volvieron” means “they returned” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
they returned, you all returned
Also: they came back
📝 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.
they turned, they flipped
Also: they reversed
📝 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.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "volvieron" in Spanish:
they flipped→they returned→they reversed→they turned→✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: volvieron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'volvieron' to mean 'they repeated an action'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *volvere*, meaning 'to roll' or 'to turn around.' This origin explains why the Spanish verb means both 'to return' (rolling back) and 'to turn' (rolling/rotating).
First recorded: 10th century (as 'bolver')
Cognates (Related words)
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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.