Portuguese · Everyday Verbs

"to come back" in Portuguese: voltar

voltar

vohl-TAHR / VOHL-too / vohl-TAYverb/vow.ˈtaʁ/

To come back in Portuguese is voltar. Say eu volto and você volta for present, and voltei for I came back. Voltar para casa is come back home.

Store errand

Eu volto em dez minutos com o pão.

I’ll come back in ten minutes with the bread.

Practice Portuguese out loud

Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free

How to pronounce voltar

Say it

vohl-TAHR / VOHL-too / vohl-TAY

/vow.ˈtaʁ/

vohl-TAHR. Eu volto is VOHL-too; voltei is vohl-TAY.

"to come back" in Portuguese: quick reference

Portuguese	English	When to use
voltar	to come back / return Dictionary form.	Dictionary form.
eu volto	I come back Present.	Present.
voltei	I came back Past.	Past.
voltar logo	come back soon Promise.	Promise.

How to use voltar in real life

1Store errand
Eu volto em dez minutos com o pão.
I’ll come back in ten minutes with the bread.
Quick trip.
2After travel
Voltei ontem e ainda estou desfazendo a mala.
I came back yesterday and I’m still unpacking.
Past voltei.
3Series binge
Quando a temporada volta? Quero assistir junto.
When does the season come back? I want to watch together.
Returns.

Mistakes English speakers make with voltar

Incorrect: Eu voltar amanhã.

Correct: Eu volto amanhã.

Conjugate: eu volto.

Incorrect: Eu regreso amanhã. (Spanish)

Correct: Eu volto amanhã.

Portuguese uses voltar, not Spanish regresar.

Good to know

Voltar is the default return verb. Retornar sounds more formal or written. Volta logo! is a warm send-off. Voltar atrás means reverse a decision, not only walk back.