conjugation.present.stem-o-ue
Stem change o → ue (poder, volver, dormir)
The stressed stem vowel o becomes ue in the four boot forms: puedo, puedes, puede, pueden — but podemos, podéis, vos podés.
conjugationA1, A2standardinternally_reviewedv1.0.0
Explanation
Same boot logic as e → ie, applied to o: when the stem syllable is stressed, o opens into ue. Poder → puedo; volver → vuelvo; dormir → duermo; contar → cuento.
Nosotros and vosotros keep the plain o (podemos, volvéis), and so does vos (vos podés, vos dormís), because their endings carry the stress.
For -ir verbs of this family (dormir, morir), the o also raises to u in the preterite third person (durmió, murieron) and the gerund (durmiendo) — covered by the third-person stem change rule.
Examples
No puedo hoy.
I can't today.
I can't today.
Region: global
¿A qué hora vuelves?
What time do you come back?
What time do you come back?
Region: global
Dormimos ocho horas.
We sleep eight hours.
We sleep eight hours.
Region: global