French word

ravoir

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁavwaʁ/

Meaning

  • verbget back

Example

Je veux ravoir mon livre demain.

I want to get my book back tomorrow.

Illustration for ravoir (get back)

More examples

Après la dispute, il a réussi à ravoir son calme.

After the argument, he managed to regain his composure.

Core concept

A possession returning to its former owner's hands.

Common phrases

  • ravoir son calme

    regain one's composure

  • ravoir le contrôle

    regain control

Similar words

récupérer: Retrieve something from elsewhere or from someone.
retrouver: Locate a person or object that had gone missing.
reprendre: Reclaim something that was previously relinquished.
rendre: Give a borrowed or held item back to its owner.

Definition in French

Ravoir signifie reprendre ou retrouver quelque chose que l'on possédait auparavant.

Word origin

The verb is formed from re- ('again') and avoir ('to have'), ultimately from Latin habere, so it expresses having something again.

Usage tips

  • Ravoir is uncommon and somewhat literary; récupérer suits recovery, retrouver finding again, and reprendre taking back in more usual phrasing.

Other meanings

  • retrieveverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word