Both rendre and retourner involve the idea of "returning," but they are used in very different contexts and have distinct meanings.
- rendre = to give back, to return (something)
- retourner = to return, to go back (a person or thing goes back)
*rendre* is used when returning something to someone.
*retourner* is used for going back to a place.
Both *rendre* and *retourner* can be used with things, but *retourner* is mainly for people/things moving back, and *rendre* is for giving back.
Rendre: to give back, to return (something)
rendre is used when you give back or return something to someone—it's a transitive verb that needs a direct object (something returned).
- Subject gives something back to someone else.
- Typical objects: books, money, favors, keys, documents.
Conjugation of Rendre (Present)
| Person | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | rends | I give back / return |
| Tu | rends | You give back |
| Il/Elle/On | rend | He/She/One gives back |
| Nous | rendons | We give back |
| Vous | rendez | You (pl./formal) give back |
| Ils/Elles | rendent | They give back |
Examples
- Je rends le livre à la bibliothèque.
I return the book to the library. (You’re giving the book back to the library.)
- Peux-tu rendre mon stylo?
Can you give me back my pen?
- Ils rendent toujours ce qu’ils empruntent.
They always return what they borrow.
*rendre* needs a direct object—the thing that is returned.
*rendre* is for things like books, money, favors—not for someone going back to a place.
For giving back keys, use *rendre*: Elle rend les clés.
Retourner: to go back, to return (to a place); to turn over
retourner is an intransitive (or sometimes transitive) verb used when someone or something goes back to a place, or when you turn over something. The emphasis is on the subject moving back, not giving something to someone.
- Can be used for people or things returning to a place or moving back.
- Also used for physical action like turning over (a page, food in a pan).
Conjugation of Retourner (Present)
| Person | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Je | retourne | I go back / return |
| Tu | retournes | You go back |
| Il/Elle/On | retourne | He/She/One goes back |
| Nous | retournons | We go back |
| Vous | retournez | You (pl./formal) go back |
| Ils/Elles | retournent | They go back |
Examples
- Elle retourne à Paris cet été.
She’s going back to Paris this summer. (She is returning to a place.)
- Après la réunion, nous retournons au bureau.
After the meeting, we go back to the office.
- Peux-tu retourner la crêpe?
Can you flip the crepe? (Here, retourner means to turn over.)
*retourner* is used when someone/something moves back or you turn something over.
*retourner* is appropriate for going back to a place: Ils retournent chez eux.
*retourner* can be used when people or things go back to a place.
If emphasizing the act of giving back the report, use *rendre*. If emphasizing taking the report back to where it belongs, *retourner* can be used.
Summary
| Verb | Meaning | Use Case | Subject | Object |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rendre | To give back/return | Returning something to someone | Gives back | Things (returned) |
| Retourner | To go back/return | Returning to a place, turning over | Moves back | (Optional) place/things |
Conclusion
rendre is for giving something back (rendre + object), while retourner is for going back (retourner = subject moves). Using the right verb depends on whether you're "returning" an object or "returning" yourself (or someone else) to a place.
- Use rendre when you return things to someone.
- Use retourner when people or things go back to a place.
- Remember retourner can also mean to turn over something (like a page).