Inklingo
← Dictionary
A small, brightly colored blue bird soaring high through a clear blue sky, depicted in a simple storybook style.

vuela

BWEH-lah

Verb (Conjugated Form)A1irregular (stem-changing) ar
flies?He/She/It flies (Present Tense)
Also:Fly!?Informal command (Tú Imperative),passes quickly?Figurative: time flies

Quick Reference

infinitivevolar
gerundvolando
past Participlevolado

📝 In Action

El águila vuela muy alto sobre las montañas.

A1

The eagle flies very high over the mountains.

Cuando estás de vacaciones, el tiempo vuela.

B1

When you are on vacation, time flies.

¡Vuela a la cocina y trae la sal!

B1

Fly (run) to the kitchen and bring the salt!

Dicen que el dinero vuela de su bolsillo.

B2

They say the money disappears quickly (flies) from his pocket.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • aeronavegar (to fly (pilot))
  • correr (to run (when used figuratively as a command))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • vuela alto – flies high
  • vuela libre – flies free

Idioms & Expressions

  • ¡Qué vuela el tiempo! – How quickly time passes!

💡 Grammar Points

Stem Change: O to UE

The verb volar (to fly) is irregular. In the present tense, the 'o' changes to 'ue' in most forms, except for 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. This is why we say vuela instead of vola.

Dual Function of 'Vuela'

'Vuela' is used for two important things: 1) To state what 'he, she, or it' does (present indicative). 2) To give an informal command to a friend ('tú' imperative).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the Stem Change

Mistake: "El pájaro vola."

Correction: The correct form is *El pájaro vuela*. Always remember the 'o' changes to 'ue' when stressed.

⭐ Usage Tips

Figurative Use

You can use vuela to mean 'run' or 'go very fast' in casual commands, even if no actual flying is involved: ¡Vuela por mi mochila! (Run/Hurry up and get my backpack!).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: vuela

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'vuela' as a command?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

volar(to fly) - verb
vuelo(flight) - noun
volador(flying/flyer) - adjective/noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'vuela' irregular?

'Vuela' is irregular because the vowel 'o' in the middle of the base verb *volar* changes to 'ue' when it is stressed, which happens in the present tense forms like *vuela* (he/she flies) and *vuelo* (I fly).

Can 'vuela' refer to a plane?

Yes. Since 'el avión' (the plane) is third-person singular (it), you would say *El avión vuela sobre el mar* (The plane flies over the sea).