French · Everyday Verbs

"to come back" in French: revenir

revenir

Say it: ruh-vuh-NEERverb/ʁəv.niʁ/

Note: home: rentrer

To come back in French is revenir. Present forms include je reviens, tu reviens, il/elle revient. Rentrer often means to go/come back home; revenir is come back more generally.

Shop errand

J'achète du pain et je reviens.
I'll buy bread and come back.
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How to pronounce revenir

Say it

ruh-vuh-NEER

/ʁəv.niʁ/

ruh-vuh-NEER. Reviens/revient sound like ruh-VYAN. Soft French r.

"to come back" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
revenirto come back

Infinitive.

je reviens / tu reviensI come back / you come back

Present.

on revientwe're coming back

Group return.

revenir deto come back from

Origin.

How to use revenir in real life

  1. 1Shop errand

    J'achète du pain et je reviens.

    I'll buy bread and come back.

    Je reviens.

  2. 2After holiday

    Elle revient de Lisbonne demain.

    She's coming back from Lisbon tomorrow.

    Revient de.

  3. 3Group plan

    On revient vers vingt heures.

    We're coming back around eight.

    On revient.

Mistakes English speakers make with revenir

Incorrect: Je rentre de Rome demain (if you mean come back, not go home).

Correct: Je reviens de Rome demain.

Revenir for come back from a trip; rentrer leans homeward.

Incorrect: Je revenir ce soir.

Correct: Je reviens ce soir.

Conjugate: je reviens.

Good to know

Shopkeepers say Je reviens when stepping out for two minutes. Travel stories use revenir de plus the city.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Leaving a coworking desk briefly

  1. ChatPal

    Tu reviens vite ?

    Are you coming back quickly?

  2. You

    Oui, je reviens dans dix minutes.

    Yes, I'm coming back in ten minutes.

  3. ChatPal

    Je garde ta place.

    I'll hold your spot.

  4. You

    Merci !

    Thanks!

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"to come back" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to come back" in French

How do you say to come back in French?

Revenir.

Revenir vs rentrer?

Revenir = come back; rentrer often = return home.

What is je reviens?

I'm coming back.

How do you pronounce revenir?

ruh-vuh-NEER.

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