Introduction
Portuguese learners often confuse the verbs voltar and devolver. Both can translate as return in English, but they are used differently. This article explains the grammar and usage for Brazilian Portuguese, with clear examples, conjugations, and cultural notes to help you choose the right verb in everyday situations.
Basic difference: movement vs giving back
The simplest way to separate voltar and devolver is to think about the action type. Voltar focuses on coming back or returning to a place or to a previous state. Devolver focuses on giving something back to someone, restoring possession.
Examples that show the contrast:
Eu voltei para casa ontem.
Eu devolvi o livro para a biblioteca.
When to use voltar
Use voltar when the subject returns to a place, a position, or a previous condition. It is intransitive when no direct object is required, but it can also be used pronominally as voltar-se in certain contexts.
Common senses of voltar:
1. Return to a place: Voltar para casa, voltar ao trabalho.
2. Come back after a period: Ele voltou depois das férias.
3. Revert to a previous state: A página voltou ao normal.
4. Repeat or go back in a sequence: Volte duas casas no tabuleiro.
Examples:
Ela voltou das férias na segunda-feira.
Nós precisamos voltar àquela cena para ver o detalhe novamente.
O site voltou ao ar depois da manutenção.
When to use devolver
Use devolver when someone gives something back to its owner or returns an item. Devolver is a transitive verb and usually requires a direct object: something that is being returned. It can also be reflexive as devolver-se in rare, specific contexts.
Common senses of devolver:
1. Return an object to its owner: devolver um livro, devolver o dinheiro.
2. Refund or return money: devolver o valor da compra.
3. Return something in the same condition: devolver o produto intacto.
Examples:
Você pode devolver a camisa se ela não servir.
Ele devolveu o celular que pegou emprestado.
A loja devolveu o dinheiro após a reclamação.
Grammar and sentence structure
Because the verbs have different transitivity, pay attention to sentence structure and to the prepositions you use.
Voltar: intransitive and with prepositions
Voltar often appears with prepositions that indicate direction or destination: para, a, de. It can take an infinitive to indicate purpose or sequence.
Structure examples:
Subject + voltar + para + place
Eu volto para casa.
Eu voltei de viagem.
Ele voltou a estudar depois da pandemia.
Note that with movement verbs you may use the personal pronoun for clarity: Eu voltei; Ela voltou. No direct object is needed to complete the idea.
Devolver: transitive and indirect objects
Devolver normally needs a direct object (the thing returned) and often an indirect object (the person receiving it) introduced by a preposition such as a or para.
Structure examples:
Subject + devolver + direct object + para/a + recipient
Eu devolvi o livro para a biblioteca.
Ela devolveu o dinheiro ao cliente.
Eles devolveram os ingressos à senhora.
You can also use clitic pronouns to make sentences shorter and more natural:
Eu o devolvi. (o refers to um livro)
Ela me devolveu o celular. (me = to me)
Conjugation patterns and useful tenses
Both verbs are regular in most families, but their conjugations differ because they belong to different verb groups: voltar is a first-conjugation -ar verb and devolver is a second-conjugation -er verb. Below are key conjugations in Brazilian Portuguese for common tenses.
Present tense
Eu volto / Você volta / Ele volta / Nós voltamos / Vocês voltam / Eles voltam
Eu devolvo / Você devolve / Ele devolve / Nós devolvemos / Vocês devolvem / Eles devolvem
Preterite (simple past)
Eu voltei / Você voltou / Ele voltou / Nós voltamos / Vocês voltaram / Eles voltaram
Eu devolvi / Você devolveu / Ele devolveu / Nós devolvemos / Vocês devolveram / Eles devolveram
Perfect and future forms
Eu tenho voltado / Eu vou voltar / Eu tinha devolvido / Eu vou devolver etc.
Use auxiliary verbs (ter, ir) for compound tenses. Notice how the forms for devolver follow regular -er patterns, while voltar follows -ar patterns.
Using pronouns and clitics correctly
In Brazilian Portuguese, object pronouns often appear after the verb in spoken language and before in more formal writing. For devolver, pronouns are common because the verb has a direct object and often an indirect object.
Examples with pronouns:
Ela me devolveu o óculos. (She returned the glasses to me)
Eu lhe devolvi o livro. (I returned the book to him/her – formal)
Eles nos devolveram o dinheiro. (They returned the money to us)
For voltar, pronouns are less about objects and more about reflexive or pronominal uses, like voltar-se or idiomatic expressions: Voltar-se para alguém, Voltar atrás.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
1. Wrong: Eu devolvi para casa ontem.
Correct: Eu voltei para casa ontem.
Explanation: You do not devolver a place; you voltar to a place.
2. Wrong: Você pode voltar o livro?
Correct: Você pode devolver o livro?
Explanation: The book is an object being returned, so use devolver.
3. Wrong: Ela devolveu para o trabalho.
Correct: Ela voltou ao trabalho.
Explanation: Returning to a job is voltar, not devolver.
Overlap and special cases
Although the rules are clear, some scenarios can cause confusion because English uses return for both senses.
Returning phone calls and messages
In Brazilian Portuguese, to return a phone call you normally use retornar or ligar de volta rather than devolver. Voltar can sometimes be used in the sense of returning to a previous topic, but it is not used to mean give back.
Examples:
Eu vou retornar a ligação mais tarde. (I will return the call later)
Você pode ligar de volta para ele? (Can you call him back?)
Returning emails or messages
For emails or messages, Brazilians commonly use responder (to reply) or retornar (to return contact). Using devolver would sound odd because nothing physical is being given back.
Return as revert or restore
When you talk about software or systems reverting to a previous state, both voltar and verbs like repor can apply. Use voltar to indicate a system went back to a previous state: O computador voltou ao estado inicial. Use devolver only when something is given back to a user or owner.
Cultural and usage notes
Brazilians are expressive and often use phrasal verbs or colloquial constructions. You will hear alternatives and related verbs in casual speech.
Common colloquial phrases:
Voltar atrás — to backtrack or change your mind: Ele voltou atrás na promessa.
Devolver na boa — to give something back without trouble: Ele devolveu na boa depois de perceber o erro.
Dar de volta — a very common colloquial alternative to devolver: Você pode dar meu casaco de volta? This uses dar (to give) + de volta (back) and is widely understood.
Observe que dar de volta is informal but very common in conversation. In formal writing, devolver is preferred.
Mini-glossary of related verbs
voltar — to return (to a place or state)
devolver — to give back, to return an object
retornar — to return, often used for calls, emails, formal returns
repor — to replace, to restore (often used for objects or status)
dar de volta — informal give back
Extra examples with context
Scenario: Borrowing a book
Eu peguei um livro emprestado do amigo. Dois dias depois, eu devolvi o livro.
Here, devolver is correct because the physical book is returned to its owner.
Scenario: Going back home
Depois da festa, nós voltamos para casa de ônibus.
Here, voltar is correct because the subject returns to a place.
Scenario: Returning to work after leave
Ela voltou ao trabalho na segunda-feira.
Voltar describes resuming an activity or coming back to a situation.
Scenario: Fixing an error and giving money back
O vendedor cobrou a mais e nos devolveu a diferença.
Devolver indicates returning money to the customer.
Quick decision flow
Ask yourself two questions before choosing the verb:
1. Is someone or something returning to a place or state? If yes, use voltar.
2. Is an item, money, or possession being given back to its owner? If yes, use devolver.
If both ideas appear, structure your sentence to use both verbs correctly. For example: Eu voltei e devolvi os livros. This means I came back and returned the books.
Conclusion
Mastering the difference between voltar and devolver helps avoid common mistakes and makes your Portuguese sound natural. Remember: voltar is about returning to a place or state, and devolver is about giving something back. With the conjugations, pronoun use, and examples above, you can confidently choose the right verb in most situations.
