Revenir vs Rentrer vs Retourner

Question

Is there a lesson that helps us to understand the distinction between each of these three verbs (revenir, rentrer, retourner) and when one is used versus the other?

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour à tous,
- Retourner:
Ruth is absolutely correct about retourner: "Retourner never means to return (something) in the context of a shop for example. In French, we use rapporter (to bring back) or échanger [quelque chose] instead"
Retourner means "to go back" or "to return to a place". You will use it when going back to a place that isn't your current location.
Je retourne à l'université en septembre = I'm going back to university in September
Il est retourné en Espagne après ses études = He went back to Spain after his studies
 
- Revenir:
means "to come back" or "to return". It will be used when returning to the place where the speaker is or to a point of origin.
Je reviens de vacances = I'm coming back from vacation
Je reviens habiter dans ma ville natale = I am coming back to live in my hometown
 
- Rentrer:
means "to go back home" or "to go back inside". It is used for returning to one's home, office, or usual place.
Je rentre chez moi après le travail = I go back home after work
 
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Chris Wirt · Answer

Retourner -- to go back to a place, where the speaker is not located. When used transitively (i.e., with a direct object, it means to return something, e.g., an ill-fitting garment)Revenir -- to go back to a place where the speaker is.Rentrer -- to go go back "home".Some examples:Marc a oublié son porte-monnaie au restaurant. Il va y retourner pour le retrouver. -- Marc forgot his wallet at the restaurant. He will go back there to get it.Ce pull ne me va pas du tout. Je le retourne tout de suite. -- That sweater doesn't fit me at all. I'll return it immediately.Mon amie est partie. Elle reviendra demain. -- My friend has left. She will come back tomorrow.Je viens de rentrer. -- I just got back home.

Ruth Drechslermartell · Answer

Thank you, Chris, for your answer. It is very helpful,
as always. However, I also saw this:

ATTENTION:

Retourner never means to return (something) in the context of a shop for example.
In French, we use rapporter (to bring back) or échanger
[quelque chose] instead:

Elle a rapporté cette jupe
comme elle était trop petite.     She returned this skirt as it
was too small.

It was in the B2 lesson: Retourner
can be used with avoir or être in Le Passé Composé... and changes meaning