Translation
to return, to go back, to turn over
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Word origin
From Vulgar Latin retornare ('to turn back'), from re- ('back') and Latin tornare ('to turn on a lathe'), from tornus ('lathe'), from Greek tornos.
- Origin
- Vulgar Latin
- Root
- retornare
- English cognates
- return, turn
Grammar
Conjugation
Regular -er conjugation. Pronouns: je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles.
Indicative
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Past historic | Future | Conditional |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | retourne | retournais | retournai | retournerai | retournerais |
| tu | retournes | retournais | retournas | retourneras | retournerais |
| il/elle | retourne | retournait | retourna | retournera | retournerait |
| nous | retournons | retournions | retournâmes | retournerons | retournerions |
| vous | retournez | retourniez | retournâtes | retournerez | retourneriez |
| ils/elles | retournent | retournaient | retournèrent | retourneront | retourneraient |
Subjunctive
| Person | Present | Imperfect |
|---|---|---|
| je | retourne | retournasse |
| tu | retournes | retournasses |
| il/elle | retourne | retournât |
| nous | retournions | retournassions |
| vous | retourniez | retournassiez |
| ils/elles | retournent | retournassent |
Imperative
| Person | Affirmative |
|---|---|
| tu | retourne |
| nous | retournons |
| vous | retournez |
Non-finite
- Gerund / present participle
- retournant
- Past participle
- retourné · retournée · retournés · retournées
Examples
Paris .
I must go back to Paris next week for a meeting.
.
She turned the fish in the pan without breaking it.
.
He turned around to see who was calling him.
.
I have to go back to the office to fetch my phone.
.
She flipped the steak with a quick movement.
est un verbe regulier du premier groupe avec deux sens principaux : retourner quelque part (to go back to a place) et retourner quelque chose (to turn something over). Se retourner (to turn around) est la forme pronominale.
Retourner a l'envoyeur (to return to sender) et retourner la situation (to turn the situation around) sont des expressions frequentes. Conjugue avec etre quand il exprime le deplacement intransitif : il est retourne chez lui (he went back home).
Where this fits
Used in
Stories
(9)Cuisiner ensemble
3 min read · Core 1000
Le premier jour de travail
3 min read · Core 1000
Le café du quartier
4 min read · Core 1000
Le coffre du jardin
4 min read · Core 5000
Adieu, madame Rochat
5 min read · Core 5000
En rentrant chez elle
5 min read · Core 5000
L'homme dont elle parle
5 min read · Core 5000
Pas devant les clients
5 min read · Core 1000
Si j'avais su
5 min read · Core 5000
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French · Free printables
retourner: worksheet, infographic and listicleThe padlock and Plus mark show a Kilo Lingo Plus feature. Start your free week to unlock it - no card needed.
Free printable study downloads for the French word "retourner" (to return, to go back, to turn over): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free week (no card)This word is taught in chapter 6, lesson 5: retourner, pardon, cause and 7 more words.