Rendre or retourner an object: give it back or send it back

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Return a borrowed book, send a parcel back and turn a page over. Compare rendre and retourner with clear French examples, pictures and four questions.

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In short

For giving something back, use rendre quelque chose à quelqu’un: je rends le livre à Nora. Retourner un colis means to return or send a parcel back; renvoyer also makes sending back clear. Je retourne à la bibliothèque means that I go back there myself.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

One friend returning a plain closed book to another at a French apartment doorway, a plain sealed cardboard parcel on a side table.
Rendre le livre à Nora gives it back. Illustration: Atelier

What is the difference between rendre and retourner?

rendregive back; return

Focus: restoring the object to its owner or usual place

rendre quelque chose à quelqu’un

Je rends le dictionnaire à Nora.
I give the dictionary back to Nora.

Nous rendons les livres à la bibliothèque.
We return the books to the library.

retournerreturn; send back

Focus: the item going back, often in a parcel or shop context

retourner quelque chose à quelqu’un

Je retourne le colis à l’expéditeur.
I send the parcel back to the sender.

Elle retourne la veste au magasin.
She returns the jacket to the shop.

Four objects, several kinds of return

Two actions during the same outing

Un livre à rendre
  1. Nora

    Tu retournes à la bibliothèque cet après-midi ?

    Are you going back to the library this afternoon?

  2. Samir

    Oui, je dois rendre deux livres.

    Yes, I have to return two books.

  3. Nora

    Tu peux aussi rendre mon dictionnaire ?

    Can you return my dictionary too?

  4. Samir

    Bien sûr. Donne-le-moi.

    Of course. Give it to me.

These verbs are flexible about the journey: rendre can describe a book you give back by hand or return by post. Retourner often appears with products and parcels. A useful everyday alternative for a parcel is renvoyer le colis. The object and destination make the action clear.

Turn it over, or go back yourself
FrenchEnglish
Retourne la feuille pour lire la suite.Turn the sheet over to read the rest.
Elle retourne la crêpe dans la poêle.She flips the pancake in the pan.
Je retourne au magasin avec la veste.I go back to the shop with the jacket.
Question 1No account needed
Give Nora her borrowed dictionary back.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je rends le dictionnaire à Nora.. Rendre le dictionnaire à Nora names both the object and its recipient.

Question 2No account needed
Which sentence says the speaker goes back to a place?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je retourne à la bibliothèque.. Here retourner à introduces a place, and the speaker is the one going back.

Question 3No account needed
Complete the present form.Nous ___ les clés demain.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

rendons. The present nous form of rendre is rendons.

Question 4No account needed
Complete the instruction for reading the other side.___ la feuille pour lire la suite.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Retourne. Retourner la feuille means turning the sheet over in this reading context.

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