revenir

The French verb “revenir” has several meanings and uses. It basically means “to come back,” since it is based on the verb “venir,” meaning “to come.” Here are some of the primary meanings:

  1. To Come Back / To Return:
    • This is the most common meaning. It indicates returning to a place where one was previously.
      • Example: “Il revient demain.” (He is coming back tomorrow.)
  2. To Return to a Previous State or Condition:
    • It can be used metaphorically to refer to returning to a previous state, condition, or topic.
      • Example: “Elle revient à ses anciennes habitudes.” (She is returning to her old habits.)
  3. To Bring Back / To Recall:
    • In certain contexts, “revenir” can imply recalling or bringing something back to mind.
      • Example: “Cette chanson me revient.” (This song brings back memories to me.)
  4. To Come Down to / To Boil Down to:
    • Used in an idiomatic sense to indicate the essence or main point of something.
      • Example: “Cela revient au même.” (It amounts to the same thing.)
  5. To Come Back (in terms of cost or result):
    • Refers to the final cost or result of something after calculations or considerations.
      • Example: “Cela revient à vingt euros.” (It comes to twenty euros.)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • farfelu

    The French adjective farfelu describes someone or something that is eccentric, whimsical, odd, or unconventional. It can convey a lighthearted, playful sense of strangeness, or sometimes imply impracticality or silliness. The feminine form is farfelue, and it can also function as a noun to describe a person with these characteristics. Meaning and usage Eccentric or…

  • mettre en boîte

    The French idiom “mettre en boîte” means literally “to put in a can” or “to can.” Figuratively however it means “to make fun of someone,” “to annoy,” “to tease,” or “to kid.” The saying dates back to the end of the 19th century, when “to can” meant “to mock” or “to whistle disapprovingly at.” The…

  • Verb: se souvenir de

    “Se souvenir de” is the French verb meaning “to remember.” It is a reflexive verb and is always followed by “de,” or preceded by its equivalent “en.” Usage examples of “se souvenir de”: Using “En” to Replace “It” or “Them”: In French, the pronoun “en” is often employed with “se souvenir de” to replace previously…

  • intéresser

    The French verb intéresser belongs to the first group of regular verbs ending in -er. It means to interest or to be interested in. Although it resembles the English verb “to interest” in meaning, its grammatical structure differs significantly. 1. To interest someone: To attract someone’s attention or curiosity In this sense, intéresser means to…

  • Future simple phrases

    The Future Simple tense in French (“le futur simple”) is the equivalent of the English future tense that uses the words “will” or “won’t.” Eg “I will go to the park; They won’t go to the shop.” The Future Simple is used less frequently than the English equivalent, because it is acceptable to use the…