volváis

Volváis is the present subjunctive form of volver for the second-person plural vosotros. It is used in subordinate clauses to express wishes, doubts, desires, possibilities, necessity, or non-real conditions involving “you all” return or come back.

Form and usage

In the present subjunctive, volver changes to vuelva, vuelvas, vuelva, volvamos, volváis, vuelvan. The vosotros form volváis carries an accent on the a to indicate the correct stress. For regions that use vosotros, volváis is common in Spain and parts of the world that retain this plural familiar form. In most of Latin America, where ustedes replaces vosotros, the corresponding form in the present subjunctive is vuelvan.

Etymology and related forms

Volver derives from Latin volvere, meaning to turn or roll. The subjunctive forms reflect a stem variation typical of volv- roots in the present subjunctive, with volváis representing the vosotros pattern.

Examples

- Espero que volváis antes de las ocho. (I hope that you all return before eight.)

- Ojalá que volváis a visitarnos pronto. (I hope you all come back to visit us soon.)

- Puede ser que volváis mañana. (It may be that you all return tomorrow.)

Notes

Volváis appears in formal or literary registers and in informal Spain where the vosotros form is standard. Its Latin American counterparts would use ustedes in corresponding present subjunctive forms, such as vuelvan.