devolver

Devolver is a Spanish verb whose core meaning is to give back or return something to its owner, place, or previous state. It can also mean to repay a debt, to restore a condition, or to answer a phone call by returning it. In everyday use, it covers returning items to a store, returning books to a library, or returning a favor. The term is closely related to volver, sharing the notion of returning, but with the addition of an object being given back.

Etymology and usage notes: Devolver comes from Latin devolvere, comprising de- “back” and volvere “to roll,” and it evolved into the current sense of bringing something back to its origin. It is a regular -er verb in many tenses but exhibits a stem change in several present forms (o → ue).

Conjugation and forms: In the present indicative, the verb forms are devuelvo, devuelves, devuelve, devolvemos, devolvéis, devuelven, with the o-ue stem change. The present subjunctive uses devuelva, devuelvas, devuelva, devolvamos, devolváis, devuelvan. The imperative affirmative uses devuelve (tú), devuelva (usted), devolved (vosotros), devuelvan (ustedes). The preterite is devolví, devolviste, devolvió, devolvimos, devolvisteis, devolvieron. The past participle is devuelto, and the gerund is devolviendo. When used with pronouns, the pronoun typically precedes the verb in direct constructions (lo devuelvo) or attaches in certain verb forms.

Examples: devolver el libro a la biblioteca, devolver el dinero prestado, devolver una llamada, devolver un favor. Common synonyms include retornar or entregar, depending on context.