What does retourner in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word retourner in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use retourner in French.

The word retourner in French means turn over, turn around, turn inside out, return, return, turn upside down, turn inside out, turn over, turn over, turn around, backfire on, turn things round, shake, shock, make change their mind, leave without looking back, be back to square one, go back to square one, return an item, return an item, ask the same thing, return the compliment, change sides, go back to school, retrace your steps, examine all aspects of a problem, look at all aspects of a problem, turn over a card, make your way home, without looking back, without a backward glance, turn in your grave, roll over in bed, do a double-take when goes past, sign and return. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word retourner

turn over

verbe transitif (renverser dessus dessous)

Il faut retourner les crêpes pour en cuire les deux faces.
Crepes must be turned over to cook both sides.

turn around

verbe transitif (inverser devant derrière)

J'ai retourné mon T-shirt parce qu'il était à l'envers : l'étiquette était devant. J'ai retourné la télé pour voir les branchements derrière.
I turned my t-shirt around because it was back to front: I had the label in the front. I turned the television around to see the connections at the back.

turn inside out

verbe transitif (inverser l'intérieur et l'extérieur)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
J'ai retourné mon T-shirt parce qu'il était à l'envers : l'étiquette était à l'extérieur.
I turned my t-shirt inside out because it was backwards: the label was on the outside.

return

verbe transitif (renvoyer)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
L'adresse était mauvaise, la poste lui a retourné son courrier.
The address was wrong, so the post office returned his mail.

return

verbe intransitif (revenir)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Vincent retourne tous les ans en Italie pour ses vacances. Mince, j'ai oublié mon portefeuille au bureau ; il faut que j'y retourne.
Blast, I've left my wallet in the office; I'll have to go back.

turn upside down, turn inside out

verbe transitif (figuré (mettre en désordre) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il a retourné toute la maison pour essayer de retrouver ses clefs.
He turned the whole house upside down to try to find his keys.

turn over

verbe pronominal (changer de sens, de position)

Elle se retourne souvent lorsqu'elle dort.
She often turns over when she is sleeping.

turn over

verbe pronominal (se mettre à l'envers)

La 2CV est une voiture qui se retourne très difficilement dans les virages.
The 2CV is a car that doesn't turn over easily on bends.

turn around

verbe pronominal (tourner la tête)

Dans la rue, les hommes se retournent souvent sur les belles femmes.
Men often turn around in the street to look at beautiful women.

backfire on

(se rediriger contre [qqn] ou [qch]) (figurative)

Finalement, l'accusation s'est retournée contre lui.
In the end, the accusation backfired on him.

turn things round

verbe pronominal (familier (se refaire financièrement) (UK)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il a perdu beaucoup ce soir au jeu, mais il pense qu'il va se retourner.
He lost a lot at gambling this evening, but I think that he'll be able to turn things round.

shake, shock

verbe transitif (figuré (troubler, bouleverser)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Le décès de son père l'a tout retourné !
His father's death shook him deeply!

make change their mind

verbe transitif (familier (faire changer d'avis à [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Elle retourne toujours son mari comme elle veut.
She gets her own way with her husband whenever she wants.

leave without looking back

locution verbale (figuré (partir sans regret)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be back to square one, go back to square one

locution verbale (recommencer) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
N'ayant pas obtenu l'accord nécessaire, nous retournons à la case départ.
Having failed to receive the permission we needed, it's back to the drawing board for us.

return an item

locution verbale (refuser une réception de marchandise)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

return an item

locution verbale (renvoyer une marchandise refusée)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

ask the same thing

locution verbale (reposer la question en réponse)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

return the compliment

(dire autant qu'on nous a dit)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Merci c'est gentil, je vous retourne le compliment. Laurine a retourné le compliment à son amie.

change sides

locution verbale (figuré, péjoratif (changer de comportement)

go back to school

locution verbale (reprendre des études)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
À 50 ans, Marie a décidé de retourner sur les bancs de l'école pour obtenir son baccalauréat.

retrace your steps

locution verbale (faire marche arrière)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

examine all aspects of a problem, look at all aspects of a problem

locution verbale (analyser tous les aspects)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

turn over a card

locution verbale (jeux : rendre une carte visible)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

make your way home

locution verbale (repartir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

without looking back, without a backward glance

locution adverbiale (figuré (sans regret) (figurative)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

turn in your grave

(figuré (être outré) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

roll over in bed

(changer de côté pour dormir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

do a double-take when goes past

(faire demi-tour pour observer [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

sign and return

locution verbale (valider et réexpédier)

Please sign and return the contract.

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