Using the Spanish Verb Volver

Although the verb volver typically is translated as to return, it has a wider variety of uses than that simple translation may suggest. Under some circumstances, its meaning can be as varied as to turn (something) over and even to become. Volver Meaning To Return The meaning of to return is the most common, as in the following examples. If the meaning is to return to a specified place, the preposition a typically is used. Note that a variety of ways can be used to translate the verb to English. Pedro volvià ³ a casa de su tà ­a. (Pedro went back to his aunts home.)Volveremos a la ciudad de Panamà ¡ en el primer ferrocarril transcontinental del mundo. (Well return to Panama City on the worlds first transcontinental railroad.)Volvieron muy contentos de su aventura. (They came back very happy from their adventure.) ¿Cà ³mo vuelvo a mi peso normal? (How can I get back to my normal weight?) Other Meanings of Volver When followed by the preposition a and an infinitive (the verb form ending in -ar, -er or -ir), volver can usually be translated as again: El profesor volvià ³ a preguntar a los estudiantes si el bote estaba lleno. (The teacher asked the students again if the jar was full.)Volveremos a intentarlo. (Well try it again.)Los democristianos vuelven a ganar las elecciones en Holanda. (The Christian Democrats are winning the elections again in Holland.)Si el comandante vuelve a aparecer, vamos a volver a frenarla. (If the commander comes back again, we are going to stop him again.) When used with a direct object, volver can mean to turn something or turn something over: Volvià ³ la pà ¡gina y hablà ³ de otro tema. (She turned the page and talked about another subject.)El hombre volvià ³ el rostro en direccià ³n contraria. (The man turned his face in the opposite direction.)Por algo que no puedes cambiar  ¡no vuelvas la vista atrà ¡s! (Dont look back for something you cannot change!) In the reflexive form, volverse can mean to become, especially when used to refer to people. Its use in this way doesnt necessarily imply the return to a previous state. Es imposible hablar contigo, te has vuelto muy cà ­nica. (It is impossible to speak with you, for you have become very cynical.)Me volvà ­ vegetariana hace 3 semanas. (I became a vegetarian three weeks ago.)Nos volveremos pobres en menos de un aà ±o. (Well become very poor in less than a year.)En la primera mitad del siglo XX, la ciudad se volvià ³ un centro mundial para la industria. (In the first half of the 20th century, the city became a world industrial center.) Conjugation of Volver Keep in mind when using volver that it is conjugated irregularly. Its past participle is vuelto, and the -o- of the stem changes to -ue- when stressed. Verbs Derived From Volver Several common verbs are made up of volver with a prefix. They all follow the conjugation pattern of volver. Among them are: Devolver can refer to returning to a previous state or returning an item: La noticias le devolvieron su felicidad. (The news brought his happiness back.)La policà ­a devolvià ³ el televisor a la tienda. (The police returned the television to the store.) Envolver is an etymological cousin of the English verbs envelop and involve and can have meanings similar to both of them. Possible translations include to cover, to wrap, to enshroud, and to implicate. Envolvià ³ el regalo de cumpleaà ±os en papel de seda. (She wrapped the birthday gift in silk paper.)La nube envolvà ­a a todo el reino. (The cloud enveloped all of the kingdom.)Ha tenido algunas experiencias que la han envuelto en la controversia. (She has had some experiences that have involved her in the controversy.) Desenvolver usually means to undo an action of envolver. Desenvolvià ³ el regalo de Navidad de su novia. (He unwrapped his girlfriends Christmas present.)Antes de meter el perro en la baà ±era tiene que desenvolver el pelo. (Before you put the dog in the bathtub you have to untangle his hair.) Key Takeaways Volver is a common verb that often means to return. It can also be used to refer to various kinds of change or to repeated actions.Prefixes can be used with volver to form several other common verbs.Volver is a stem-changing verb with an irregular past participle.