How to say “I’ll give it back” in Portuguese

Introduction

Knowing how to say I’ll give it back in Portuguese is useful in everyday interactions, from borrowing a book to returning a lost phone. This article explains natural Brazilian Portuguese phrases, pronunciation tips, polite alternatives, and short dialogues so you can speak confidently in real situations.

Core phrase: how to express I’ll give it back

The most direct and common way to say I’ll give it back is Vou devolver. This comes from the verb devolver, which means to return something to its owner. Use Vou devolver when you promise to return an item and want a neutral, clear expression.

Examples with Vou devolver

Vou devolver o livro amanhã.
Vou devolver o dinheiro na próxima semana.
Vou devolver a sua caneta assim que terminar.

Other natural alternatives

Brazilian Portuguese has several other options depending on formality, emphasis, or the item involved. Learn these variants to sound more native and adapt to context.

Eu vou devolver

Adding Eu in front creates emphasis and can sound slightly more personal or reassuring. Use Eu vou devolver when you want to make the promise explicit.

Vou te devolver

To indicate the recipient directly, use the clitic te. Vou te devolver literally means I will give it back to you and is very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. Place te before devolver in informal speech.

Vou te devolver o celular quando você voltar.
Sei que esqueci na sua casa, vou te devolver amanhã.

Devolver para vs devolver a

When specifying to whom you will return something, Brazilians usually use devolver para or the clitic form. Both are acceptable, but devolver para is slightly more formal and clear in writing.

Vou devolver para a Maria amanhã.
Vou devolver o livro para o professor.

Entregar

When handing something back in person, Brazilians often use the verb entregar, which means to hand over or deliver. Use entregar when planning a physical handover.

Eu vou entregar o casaco pra você quando te encontrar.
Posso entregar o ingresso na sua casa.

Polite and formal ways to promise a return

In more formal contexts, or when speaking to someone you should show respect to, choose a polite construction or use conditional forms.

Eu devolvo

Eu devolvo is present tense but conveys a promise or plan. It is less casual than Vou devolver and works well in many situations.

Eu devolvo amanhã pela manhã.
Eu devolvo assim que possível.

Eu irei devolver

Eu irei devolver is more formal and slightly more emphatic than Vou devolver. It is appropriate in written communication or when addressing someone in a formal setting.

Eu irei devolver os documentos até sexta-feira.
Eu irei devolver tudo o que peguei emprestado.

Eu posso devolver

If you want to offer to return something or ask permission to return it later, use Eu posso devolver. This softens the promise and makes it more like an offer.

Eu posso devolver depois do trabalho, se for melhor pra você.
Posso devolver amanhã cedo, se você quiser.

Casual, idiomatic, and colloquial expressions

Brazilian Portuguese is rich with colloquial ways to express I’ll give it back. These expressions help you sound friendly and natural in informal conversations.

Te devolvo

Short and casual, Te devolvo often appears in spoken language. Omit eu and vou to keep it quick and familiar.

Te devolvo isso quando nos encontrarmos.
Te devolvo a blusa depois da festa.

Devolver depois

To promise a later return without specifying when, Brazilians say Devolver depois or use it in a sentence with vou. This is common when the exact timing is uncertain.

Posso devolver depois, quando eu lembrar.
Vou devolver depois, prometo.

Devolvo pra você

Using pra instead of para is more colloquial. Devolvo pra você sounds warm and conversational.

Devolvo pra você amanhã cedo.
Devolvo pra você assim que eu passar aí.

Common verbs and grammar points

Understanding the verbs and pronouns involved helps you form proper sentences. Below are the most relevant verbs and how they behave.

Devolver (verb)

Devolver is the main verb meaning to return. Its regular conjugation in present indicative: eu devolvo, você devolve, ele devolve, nós devolvemos, vocês devolvem, eles devolvem. Use these forms based on the subject.

Ele devolve sempre os calçados.
Nós devolvemos o material na segunda.

Entregar (verb)

Entregar means to hand over. It often replaces devolver when physically giving an item back. Conjugation example: eu entrego, você entrega, nós entregamos.

Eu entrego na portaria quando chegar.
Ela entrega o presente pessoalmente.

Clitic pronouns: te, lhe, para você

In informal speech, use te to mean you (object). In more formal contexts, use lhe or para você. Placement matters: te usually comes before the verb in colloquial Brazilian Portuguese.

Te devolvo amanhã. (informal)
Vou devolver para você amanhã. (neutral/formal)
Vou devolver-lhe os documentos. (more formal, less used in speech)

Short dialogues for real-life situations

These dialogues show natural ways to promise a return in everyday contexts: borrowing items, losing and finding objects, or lending money.

Borrowing a book

Amigo A: Você pode me emprestar aquele livro?
Amigo B: Posso sim. Vou devolver pra você semana que vem.

Returning a lost phone

Pessoa A: Achei seu celular no café.
Pessoa B: Sério? Obrigado! Quando você vai devolver?
Pessoa A: Posso devolver agora. Posso passar aí em 10 minutos.

Lending money

Pessoa A: Preciso de 50 reais, você consegue emprestar?
Pessoa B: Tudo bem. Eu devolvo até sexta.
Pessoa A: Obrigado, combinado.

Pronunciation tips

Here are simple pronunciation tips to help you sound natural when promising to return something.

Vou devolver

Vou sounds like voh with a short vowel. Devolver is pronounced deh-vohl-VEHR with stress on the last syllable. The initial d sounds like the English d, and v like English v.

Te devo

Te is pronounced chee in many Brazilian accents, especially before certain consonants, but more commonly like teh. Devolvo is deh-VOHL-voh. Natural rhythm and intonation convey sincerity.

Usage notes and cultural tips

Politeness and timing matter in Brazilian social exchanges. Here are practical notes to help you choose the right phrase.

Be specific when possible

Providing a time or place makes your promise more trustworthy. Instead of only saying Vou devolver, add amanhã, depois, or assim que possível.

Vou devolver amanhã às 10h.
Vou devolver quando te encontrar na escola.

Use softening phrases for favors

If someone lends you something, it’s polite to show appreciation and confirm the return. Combine obrigado with your promise.

Obrigado por emprestar. Vou devolver em três dias.
Agradeço muito, vou devolver direitinho.

When you can’t return immediately

If you cannot return an item right away, offer an alternative: entregar depois, mandar pelos correios, or combinar um horário. Communicating clearly prevents misunderstandings.

Não consigo devolver hoje, mas vou te devolver amanhã cedo.
Não estarei na cidade, posso devolver pelos correios.

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid literal translations from English or awkward word order. Portuguese generally prefers Vou devolver or Eu devolvo rather than English-style I will return it directly translated with no pronoun adjustments.

Avoid direct English structure

Incorrect: Eu vou dar de volta.
Better: Vou devolver or Eu vou devolver.

Watch clitic placement

In Brazilian Portuguese, object pronouns like te usually come before the verb in casual speech: Te devolvo, not devolvo te, which sounds old-fashioned or incorrect in conversation.

Practice phrases to memorize

Below are concise phrases to help you memorize common patterns. Repeat them aloud and memorize the alternatives for formality and specificity.

Vou devolver amanhã.
Te devolvo quando nos encontrarmos.
Eu devolvo assim que puder.
Posso devolver depois do trabalho?
Eu irei devolver até sexta.

Conclusion

Mastering how to say I’ll give it back in Brazilian Portuguese is simple with a few core verbs and pronoun patterns. Use Vou devolver for most situations, choose te devolvo for informal speech, and prefer eu irei devolver or vou devolver para você in formal contexts. Adding a clear time or place makes your promise trustworthy and sounds natural in everyday interactions.