French word

rendre

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁɑ̃dʁ/

Meaning

  • verbmake

Example

Ce film me rend triste.

This film makes me sad.

Illustration for rendre (make)

More examples

La réussite me rend heureux.

The success makes me happy.

Core concept

An outside influence moves a person or thing into a new state or gives it a noticeable quality.

Common phrases

  • rendre heureux

    make someone happy

  • rendre triste

    make someone sad

  • rendre possible

    enable

Similar words

faire: Bring something about or cause it to enter a particular state.
mettre: Put a person or thing into a particular state.
donner: Give rise to a feeling or impression.
provoquer: Strongly trigger a reaction or result through an event or action.

Definition in French

Faire qu'une personne ou une chose devienne d'un certain état ou possède une qualité; verbe transitif.

Word origin

French rendre comes from Old French rendre and Latin reddere, formed from re- 'back' and dare 'give', with causative uses developing from the sense 'give back'.

Usage tips

  • The pattern rendre + adjective means 'make someone or something ...', so Ce film me rend triste uses me as a direct object.

Other meanings

  • causeverb
  • changeverb
  • returnverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word