vuelves
/bwel-bes/
you return
"Vuelves" means you return. This illustration shows a journey ending back at the starting point.
vuelves(Verb)
you return
?coming back to a location
,you come back
?movement toward the speaker
you go back
?returning to a previous situation
📝 In Action
¿A qué hora vuelves del trabajo?
A1What time are you returning from work?
Si vuelves tarde, llámame, por favor.
A2If you come back late, call me, please.
💡 Grammar Points
Stem Change Reminder
In the present tense, the 'o' in the verb stem changes to 'ue' for all forms except 'nosotros' and 'vosotros'. This is why we say 'vuelves' and not 'volves'.
Irregular Past Participle
The past participle is 'vuelto', not 'volvido'. This irregular form is used to create perfect tenses (like 'has vuelto' - you have returned).
If you change direction, "vuelves" means you turn.
vuelves(Verb)
you turn
?changing direction or orientation
you flip
?turning an object over, like a page
📝 In Action
Vuelves la cabeza para verme.
A2You turn your head to see me.
Si vuelves la carta, verás la respuesta.
B1If you flip the card over, you will see the answer.
"Vuelves" can mean you do something again, or you repeat an action.
📝 In Action
¿Por qué vuelves a llamarme tan tarde?
B1Why are you calling me again so late?
Espero que no vuelvas a cometer el mismo error.
B2I hope you don't make the same mistake again.
💡 Grammar Points
The Repetition Shortcut
In Spanish, the easiest way to say 'do something again' is to use 'volver' followed immediately by the preposition 'a' and then the action verb in its base form (infinitive).
⭐ Usage Tips
A Natural Sound
Using 'volver a' sounds much more natural and idiomatic than using adverbs like 'otra vez' (again) when describing an action someone is repeating.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vuelves
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'vuelves' to mean 'to do something again'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'vuelves' change the 'o' to 'ue'?
The verb 'volver' is a 'boot verb' or 'stem-changing verb.' This means its root vowel changes from 'o' to 'ue' in the present tense whenever the stress falls on that syllable, which happens for 'yo, tú, él/ella/usted, and ellos/ellas/ustedes.' The 'nosotros' and 'vosotros' forms keep the original 'o' (volvemos).
Is 'vuelves' formal or informal?
'Vuelves' uses the informal pronoun 'tú' (you), so it is used when speaking to friends, family, children, or peers. For a formal setting (speaking to a boss, elder, or stranger), you would use the 'usted' form: 'vuelve'.