devolví

Devolví is the first-person singular form of the Spanish verb devolver in the pretérito perfecto simple (simple past). It denotes a completed action in the past, most commonly the act of giving back something to its owner, a place, or a rightful holder. It is used with a direct object, as in “devolví el libro” (I returned the book) or “devolví las llaves” (I returned the keys).

The verb devolver comes from the Latin devolvere, formed by de- and volvere (to roll or turn). In contemporary Spanish, its primary sense is to return or give back an item that was borrowed, lent, or misplaced, to return it to its owner or to its usual location. It can also mean to refund or reimburse money in commercial contexts, as in “devolvieron el importe” (they refunded the amount). Although most uses concern tangible objects, devolver can extend to restoring something to a previous state or ownership in a broad sense.

Usage notes: devolví is a regular -er verb in the pretérito, with forms such as devolviste, devolvió, devolvimos, devolvisteis, and devolvieron. It contrasts with volver, which commonly means “to return” in the sense of going back to a place (yo volví). Examples: “Ayer devolví el libro a la biblioteca.” “La tienda me devolvió el dinero” illustrate the typical, concrete sense of returning or refunding.