se retrouver
To meet up in French is se retrouver.
se retrouver is used to describe coming together with someone, often at a prearranged time or location. It can also literally mean to find oneself again or to be reunited after being separated.
Meaning: intransitive: to come together with (someone), often at a prearranged time and/or location (verb)
Which one should you use?
There is a distinction between se retrouver and rencontrer. Use se retrouver for a planned meeting with people you already know. In contrast, rencontrer is typically used for meeting someone for the first time or encountering someone by chance.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb se retrouver is pronominal, meaning it must be used with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous) to indicate that the subjects are meeting each other.
Did you know?
- Beyond social plans, you can use se retrouver to describe an unexpected or unwanted situation, such as se retrouver à la rue to mean 'to find oneself on the street' or homeless.
- In certain contexts, se retrouver carries a romantic nuance, specifically evoking the emotional reunion of lovers who have been apart.
- While se retrouver is for meetings, the root verb trouver is used in French to express an opinion, such as je trouve ça beau for 'I find that beautiful'.
Examples in context
- Retrouvons-nous au caféLet's meet up at the café.
- On se retrouve devant le cinéma à 20h.We are meeting up in front of the cinema at 8 PM.
- On peut se retrouver devant le cinéma ?Can we meet up in front of the cinema?
- Ils veulent se retrouver dans un café.They want to meet up in a cafe.
- On va se retrouver à midi.We are going to meet up at noon.
Example conversation
Two friends are planning their afternoon in a park.
- HugoLéa, on peut se retrouver à la gare ?Léa, can we meet up at the station?
- LéaOui, c'est parfait pour moi.Yes, that is perfect for me.
- HugoTu viens à quelle heure ?What time are you coming?
- LéaJe serai là à quinze heures.I will be there at three p.m.
