revenir
/ʁə.v(ə).niʁ/
To come back in French is revenir.
The verb revenir is used to describe the action of returning to a place.
Meaning: (''intransitive'') To return to a place (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The verb is composed of the prefix re- (again/back) and venir (to come).
Which one should you use?
Use revenir when the person is returning to the place where the speaker currently is, whereas retourner is used when returning to a place where the speaker is not.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of revenir is revenu, and it uses the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁə.v(ə).niʁ/
Did you know?
- A person might say revenir à la raison to mean 'coming back to one's senses', a common French idiom for regaining composure.
- The verb revenir is part of a small group of verbs known as 'dr. & mrs. vandertramp' verbs that always use être instead of avoir in the past tense.
- In a professional or formal context, the phrase revenir vers quelqu'un is common shorthand for 'I will get back to you' with an answer.
Examples in context
- Je vais revenir demain.I'm going to come back tomorrow.This sentence shows how to use revenir to express a future intention.Tatoeba #9065946 by Aiji, translation #6663648 by CK
- Quand dois-je revenir ?When do I have to come back?This sentence is useful for asking about the timing of a return using revenir.Tatoeba #10704879 by AutoBot, translation #10695760 by CK
- Il l'implora de revenir.He implored her to come back.This sentence shows how to use revenir after a verb of entreaty.Tatoeba #2339263 by sacredceltic, translation #2337282 by Hybrid
- Revenez, s'il vous plaît.Please come back.
- Reviens ici !Come back here!
- Reviens donc !Come back, eh?
- Je reviensI come back
- Tu reviendrasYou will come back
- Il reviendrait si…He would come back if…
- Reviens viteCome back quickly
- Reviens immédiatementCome back immediately
- Reviens rapidementCome back fast
- 112 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are talking about a trip.
- LucasJe pars en vacances demain.I am leaving on vacation tomorrow.
- LéaTu vas revenir quand ?When are you coming back?
- LucasJe pense revenir dans deux semaines.I think I will come back in two weeks.
- LéaC'est super, on se voit alors !That's great, see you then!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “come back” translations and entries revenir, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
