volés

Volés is the plural past participle of the French verb voler. It has two main senses depending on context: as a verb form indicating theft and as an adjective meaning stolen, agreeing with the noun it modifies. The word can also arise in compound tenses as part of a passive or periphrastic construction.

In the sense of theft, volé means that someone has taken property without permission. For example, in phrases like des objets volés (stolen objects) or des biens volés (stolen goods), volé functions as an adjective describing the noun. In compound tenses, the past participle may agree with a preceding direct object: “les objets qu’ils ont volés” (the objects they stole). In a full past tense with être, one would say “des objets ont été volés” (objects have been stolen).

In its other sense, volé can be used as the past participle of voler meaning to fly. In this usage, it describes something that has flown, as in a bird that has flown, though this meaning is less common in everyday references and is often clarified by context.

Etymology and ambiguity: volé derives from voler, which in French historically meant both to fly and to steal. The two senses remain distinct in modern usage, but the same form can imply either depending on context, particularly when the action verb is involved.

See also: vol, voleur, volerie.