How do I say do again in Spanish?

Volver a + infinitive. Conjugate volver in any tense, add a, then the infinitive. Vuelvo a leer (I read again). Volví a llamar (I called again). Nunca volveré a hacerlo (I'll never do it again).

Why use volver a instead of otra vez?

Volver a + infinitive is more compact and natural in spoken Spanish. Vuelve a intentarlo (Try again) flows better than Intenta otra vez. Both are correct, but volver a is preferred in everyday speech for action-repetition contexts.

What's the difference between volver and volver a + infinitive?

Volver alone = to return / come back (Volví a casa = I returned home). Volver a + infinitive = to do again (Volví a leer = I read again). The a + infinitive triggers the repetition meaning.

How is volver conjugated?

Volver follows the o → ue boot stem change in present and subjunctive: vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, volvemos, volvéis, vuelven. The past participle is irregular: vuelto (he vuelto, has vuelto). Preterite is regular: volví, volviste, etc.

How can I learn volver a naturally?

Repeated actions, attempts, and habits are constant in conversation. Parrot's short-form videos surface vuelve a intentarlo / volví a llamar / nunca volveré a in real contexts, so the construction becomes automatic with exposure.

Spanish grammar · Intermediate

Volver A + Infinitive: How to Say Do Again in Spanish

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Periphrastic meaning to do again. Conjugate volver (o → ue stem change) in any tense, add a, follow with an infinitive. More natural than the adverb otra vez or de nuevo for repeated actions.

Vuelvo a leer ese libro cada año.

I read that book again every year.

What it is

Volver a + infinitive is Spanish's most natural way to express to do again. Conjugate volver (with o → ue stem change in present and subjunctive) in any tense, add a, then any infinitive. More common than the adverbs otra vez or de nuevo for expressing repeated actions.

In Vuelvo a leer ese libro cada año (I read that book again every year), vuelvo is the present yo form of volver, a is the connector, and leer is the infinitive. The construction expresses repetition.

How to spot it

Look for volver + a + infinitive. The a is mandatory. Equivalent in meaning to verb + otra vez but more compact and natural in spoken Spanish.

Volví a llamar. — I called again.
Vuelve a intentarlo. — Try it again.
Nunca volveré a hacerlo. — I'll never do it again.

Volver a is preferred over the adverbial construction (lo intenté otra vez) in most everyday speech. Native speakers default to volver a for any repeated action.

Volver a + Infinitive Quick Reference

Volver a across tenses

Tense	yo form	Meaning
Present	vuelvo a + inf.	I do again...
Preterite	volví a + inf.	I did again...
Imperfect	volvía a + inf.	I was doing again...
Future	volveré a + inf.	I'll do again...
Conditional	volvería a + inf.	I would do again...
Subjunctive	vuelva a + inf.	(that) I do again...
Negative future	no volveré a + inf.	I won't ever again...

Common Volver a + Infinitive Examples in Spanish

Volver a covers any repeated action, from second tries to recurring habits to swearing off something never again.

Trying Again

Vuelve a intentarlo.: Try it again.
Volví a llamar pero no contestó.: I called again but he didn't answer.
Voy a volver a estudiar.: I'm going to study again.
Volvemos a hacer la pregunta.: We're asking the question again.
Tendrás que volver a hacer el examen.: You'll have to take the exam again.

Second tries, repeated attempts, do-overs all take volver a.

Recurring Habits

Cada año vuelvo a visitar mi pueblo.: Every year I visit my hometown again.
Siempre vuelvo a comer ahí.: I always eat there again.
Vuelve a llover.: It's raining again.
Vuelvo a leer ese libro cada vez que viajo.: I read that book again whenever I travel.
Volvió a fumar después de un año sin fumar.: He started smoking again after a year without.

Recurring habits, things that keep happening, all take volver a + infinitive.

Negative: Never Again

Nunca volveré a hablar con él.: I'll never speak to him again.
No volvieron a venir.: They didn't come again.
No vuelvas a llamarme.: Don't call me again.
Nunca volvimos a vernos.: We never saw each other again.
Prometo no volver a hacerlo.: I promise not to do it again.

Negation + volver a + infinitive = won't ever again / never again. Common in promises, oaths, and broken relationships.

Conditional and Subjunctive

Volvería a hacerlo si pudiera.: I'd do it again if I could.
Espero que vuelvas a visitarnos.: I hope you visit us again.
Si vuelves a llegar tarde, te quedas sin postre.: If you come late again, no dessert.
Dudo que vuelva a confiar en ella.: I doubt I'll trust her again.
Quizás volvamos a vernos algún día.: Maybe we'll see each other again someday.

Conditional and subjunctive uses are common for hypothetical or future-uncertain repeats.

How Volver A Works

Structure: Volver + A + Infinitive

Conjugate volver (o → ue stem change in present and subjunctive) in any tense, add a (always the same), then an infinitive.

Vuelvo a / volví a / volvía a + infinitive.

Tense changes only on volver.

Volver + a + infinitive.

Volver Is O → UE in Boot Forms

In present indicative and subjunctive, volver follows the o → ue boot pattern: vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, vuelven (and subjunctive vuelva, vuelvas, etc.). Nosotros and vosotros keep the o (volvemos, volváis). The past participle is irregular: vuelto.

vuelvo, volvemos, volví, he vuelto.

Boot stem change + irregular participle.

Stem change in boot; participle is vuelto.

More Natural Than Otra Vez

While Spanish has the adverbs otra vez and de nuevo (= again), volver a + infinitive is more natural in everyday speech for action-repetition contexts. Vuelve a intentarlo flows better than Intenta otra vez (though both are correct).

Vuelve a intentarlo. = Intenta otra vez.

Volver a is more compact and natural.

Prefer volver a in conversation.

Volver Alone Means to Return

Don't confuse volver a + infinitive (do again) with volver alone (to come back / return). Volví a casa = I returned home. Volví a leer = I read again. The a + infinitive triggers the do again meaning.

Volví a casa (returned home). Volví a leer (read again).

Volver alone vs. volver + a + infinitive.

A + infinitive flips to do again.

Common Mistakes with Volver a + Infinitive

Incorrect: Volví leer el libro. — I read the book again. (wrong, missing a)

Correct: Volví a leer el libro. — I read the book again.

Volver requires the preposition a before the infinitive to express do again. Without a, volver returns to its standalone meaning of return.

Incorrect: Volvi a leyendo el libro. — I read the book again. (wrong, gerund instead of infinitive)

Correct: Volví a leer el libro. — I read the book again.

After volver a, use the infinitive (leer), not the gerund (leyendo). Periphrastic constructions in Spanish use infinitives.

Incorrect: Volvo a llamar mañana. — I'll call again tomorrow. (wrong, missing o → ue stem change)

Correct: Vuelvo a llamar mañana. — I'll call again tomorrow.

In the present indicative, volver takes the o → ue boot change. The yo form is vuelvo, not volvo. The infinitive volver doesn't have the stem change, but conjugated forms do.

Volver a + Infinitive FAQs

How do I say do again in Spanish?: Volver a + infinitive. Conjugate volver in any tense, add a, then the infinitive. Vuelvo a leer (I read again). Volví a llamar (I called again). Nunca volveré a hacerlo (I'll never do it again).
Why use volver a instead of otra vez?: Volver a + infinitive is more compact and natural in spoken Spanish. Vuelve a intentarlo (Try again) flows better than Intenta otra vez. Both are correct, but volver a is preferred in everyday speech for action-repetition contexts.
What's the difference between volver and volver a + infinitive?: Volver alone = to return / come back (Volví a casa = I returned home). Volver a + infinitive = to do again (Volví a leer = I read again). The a + infinitive triggers the repetition meaning.
How is volver conjugated?: Volver follows the o → ue boot stem change in present and subjunctive: vuelvo, vuelves, vuelve, volvemos, volvéis, vuelven. The past participle is irregular: vuelto (he vuelto, has vuelto). Preterite is regular: volví, volviste, etc.
How can I learn volver a naturally?: Repeated actions, attempts, and habits are constant in conversation. Parrot's short-form videos surface vuelve a intentarlo / volví a llamar / nunca volveré a in real contexts, so the construction becomes automatic with exposure.