Verb: rappeler & se rappeler

ByFast French

Meanings:
“Rappeler” is a transitive verb, meaning “to remind” or “to call back.” It means to bring something or someone to one’s attention again. On the other hand, “se rappeler” is a reflexive verb, meaning “to remember” or “to recall.”

Conjugation:
Note the irregular spelling in the singular forms (je, tu & il) and the third person plural forms (ils) of the Present and Future Simple tenses.

1. Present Tense:

  • “Rappeler”:
    • Je rappelle
    • Tu rappelles
    • Il/elle/on rappelle
    • Nous rappelons
    • Vous rappelez
    • Ils/elles rappellent
  • “Se Rappeler”:
    • Je me rappelle
    • Tu te rappelles
    • Il/elle/on se rappelle
    • Nous nous rappelons
    • Vous vous rappelez
    • Ils/elles se rappellent

2. Future Simple Tense:

  • “Rappeler”:
    • Je rappellerai
    • Tu rappelleras
    • Il/elle/on rappellera
    • Nous rappellerons
    • Vous rappellerez
    • Ils/elles rappelleront
  • “Se Rappeler”:
    • Je me rappellerai
    • Tu te rappelleras
    • Il/elle/on se rappellera
    • Nous nous rappellerons
    • Vous vous rappellerez
    • Ils/elles se rappelleront

3. Passé Composé Tense:

  • “Rappeler”:
    • J’ai rappelé
    • Tu as rappelé
    • Il/elle/on a rappelé
    • Nous avons rappelé
    • Vous avez rappelé
    • Ils/elles ont rappelé
  • “Se Rappeler”:
    • Je me suis rappelé(e)
    • Tu t’es rappelé(e)
    • Il/elle/on s’est rappelé(e)
    • Nous nous sommes rappelé(e)s
    • Vous vous êtes rappelé(e)(s)
    • Ils/elles se sont rappelé(e)s

Etymology:
Both “rappeler” and “se rappeler” find their roots in the Latin verb “appellare,” which means “to call” or “to summon.” The Latin verb “appellare” is the origin of the French verb “appeler,” which also means “to call.” Over time, the prefix “re-” was added to signify repetition, giving rise to “rappeler.” The reflexive form “se rappeler” developed from “rappeler,” meaning to remember or to recall.

Idiomatic Expressions:

  • “Rappeler à l’ordre”: To call someone to order, implying a reminder or correction.
  • “Rappeler à la réalité”: To bring someone back to reality, often in a sobering or reflective context.
  • “Se rappeler à bon entendeur”: To remind someone subtly, often used when conveying a message indirectly.

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