Variamos

Variamos is the first-person plural form of the Spanish verb variar, meaning to vary or to change. It can function as present indicative (we vary) or as the simple past tense (we varied), depending on context. Because the written form is identical for these two tenses in this pronoun, time is usually inferred from surrounding words or time expressions.

Etymology and related forms: variar comes from Latin variāre, from varius meaning diverse or changing. Variar belongs to the regular -ar verb conjugation, with forms such as varío, varías, varía, variamos, variáis, varían in the present; varié, variaste, varió, variamos, variasteis, variance in the past; and variábamos in the imperfect, among others.

Usage and examples: variamos is used to describe changes in degree, form, quantity, or options. It commonly appears with nouns that can be altered, such as rutas (routes), precios (prices), políticas (policies), or opciones (options). Examples include: “Variamos las rutas para evitar el tráfico” (We vary our routes to avoid traffic). “Ayer variamos las rutas para reducir el tiempo de viaje” (Yesterday we varied our routes to reduce travel time). The context—or a time cue—clarifies whether the action is taking place in the present or in the past.

Notes: because the form can indicate either present or past, authors often rely on time expressions or surrounding verbs to remove ambiguity. Variamos is a regular -ar verb form, and its use is common in everyday Spanish when describing deliberate changes or adjustments.