¿Cuándo vuelves?
The English phrase "when are you coming back?" is translated into Spanish as ¿Cuándo vuelves?
This question is used to ask someone about the time or date of their return. The word Cuándo is a question word meaning "when".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ¿Cuándo vuelves? literally means "When do you return?" It is composed of Cuándo (when) and vuelves, which is the second-person singular present indicative of the verb volver.
Which one should you use?
While ¿Cuándo vuelves? is the most common way to ask this, you can also use the synonym ¿Cuándo regresas? which uses the verb regresar.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, when asking a group of people informally when they are returning, use ¿Cuándo volvéis? In Latin America, the form ¿Cuándo vuelven? is used to address a group of people in both formal and informal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a single person formally, use the third-person singular form vuelve with the pronoun usted, as in ¿Cuándo vuelve usted?
Did you know?
- The verb volver is so central to the idea of return that Spanish has the phrase volver a, which allows speakers to turn any verb into a repetitive action, like saying 'read again' by using volver a leer.
- In some Latin American cultures, asking ¿Cuándo vuelves? can be a polite way of expressing that someone is missed, rather than a literal request for a travel itinerary.
- The word cuándo shares a distant root with the English word 'cue', as both derive from the Latin quandō.
Examples in context
- ¿Cuándo regresa usted? He estado esperando su llegada.When are you coming back? I've been eagerly waiting for your return.
- ¿Cuándo va a regresar? Necesitamos su ayuda en este proyecto.When are you going to come back? We need your help with this project.
- ¿Cuándo vuelves? Te extrañamos mucho en casa.When are you coming back? We miss you a lot at home.
- ¿Cuándo regresas? Quiero contarte todo lo que ha pasado.When are you coming back? I want to tell you everything that has happened.
- ¿Cuándo vuelves de las vacaciones?When are you coming back from vacation?
Example conversation
Daniel is talking to Sofía on the phone while she is traveling.
- DanielHola, Sofía. ¿Cuándo vuelves?Hi, Sofía. When are you coming back?
- SofíaVuelvo el próximo lunes.I'm coming back next Monday.
- DanielPerfecto, te recojo en el aeropuerto.Perfect, I'll pick you up at the airport.
- SofíaMuchas gracias, Daniel.Thank you very much, Daniel.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cuándo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
