French Conversation · Level 32
90 words
French word
retourner
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁətuʁne/
Meaning
- verbgo back
Example
Je vais retourner à la maison.
I am going back home.
More examples
Après le voyage, il a décidé de retourner dans son pays.
After the trip, he decided to return to his country.
Core concept
A person or object turns back to its earlier place or orientation.
Common phrases
retourner à la maison
return home
retourner au travail
return to work
retourner dans son pays
return to one's country
Similar words
revenir: Come back to a place previously departed from or occupied.
rentrer: Go home or return inside a building.
ramener: Bring a person or object back to its original place.
rendre: Return a borrowed or entrusted item to its owner.
Definition in French
Revenir à un lieu où l'on était auparavant ou remettre quelque chose dans sa position ou son orientation initiale.
Word origin
French retourner combines re-, meaning 'again', with tourner, from Old French retorner and ultimately Latin tornare, meaning 'to turn'.
Usage tips
- In the passé composé, intransitive retourner commonly uses être, while transitive retourner uses avoir.