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Retourner, revenir, rentrer: a French “back” cheat sheet

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose revenir, retourner or rentrer from the destination and viewpoint. Compare six past-tense examples and check yourself with four questions.

In short

Revenir means come back to a reference point; retourner means go back to a place; rentrer often means go home or back inside. First picture where the person is returning. Then choose the verb that fits the viewpoint.

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An adult in a coat returns through the open door of a welcoming French home.
The homecoming gives rentrer chez soi a setting. Illustration: Atelier

Les verbes du retour · fiche

1 · Come back: revenir

The return points towards the speaker, listener or place treated as “here”.

Attends-moi ici, je reviens dans cinq minutes.Wait for me here; I’ll be back in five minutes.

Tu reviens nous voir dimanche ?Are you coming back to see us on Sunday?

2 · Go back: retourner

The focus is another visit to somewhere you have already been.

J’ai oublié mon sac au café. Je vais y retourner.I left my bag at the café. I’m going back there.

3 · Go home or inside: rentrer

Home or a familiar base is often understood. Indoors is another common destination.

Il est tard, je rentre chez moi.It’s late; I’m going home.

Il fait froid. On rentre ?It’s cold. Shall we go back inside?

4 · Choose a viewpoint

Both revenir à Lyon and retourner à Lyon are possible. Someone waiting in Lyon may say reviens. Someone planning another visit from elsewhere may say retourner.

Nous retournerons à Lyon l’année prochaine.We’ll go back to Lyon next year.

5 · An object changes the construction

When someone turns an object over or brings it inside, use avoir. For a person returning in these examples, use être.

J’ai retourné la crêpe.I turned the pancake over.

J’ai rentré les chaises.I brought the chairs inside.

Past tense: study before the questions
Person returnsPerson acts on an object
Léa est revenue.Léa a retourné la crêpe.
Léa est retournée au café.Léa a rentré les chaises.
Léa est rentrée chez elle.Léa a retourné la carte.

With être, the participle agrees with the subject: Léa est revenue; les filles sont rentrées. For origin, use de: elle revient de la gare. For a destination, use à or chez: elle retourne au café; elle rentre chez elle.

Destinations and objects

Question 1No account needed
A friend briefly leaves you and says je reviens. What is the viewpoint?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Back to the place where you are waiting.. Revenir points back towards the shared reference point.

Question 2No account needed
Which sentence explicitly says Léa went home?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Léa est rentrée chez elle.. Chez elle states the home destination; rentrée agrees with Léa.

Question 3No account needed
Choose the auxiliary for turning a card over.J’___ retourné la carte.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

ai. La carte is a direct object: j’ai retourné la carte.

Question 4No account needed
What does elle revient de la gare tell you?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The station is where she is returning from.. De la gare identifies the origin of her return.

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