What does retrouver in French mean?

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

The word retrouver in French means find, encounter again, find new, get back, remember, get back to, meet, meet again, meet again, find again, meet, meet at 's house, find yourself, find yourself [somewhere], get your bearings, get your bearings, be found, see yourself in, find yourself with, find yourself doing, find you like, recognize, find work, recover your appetite, get your appetite back, regain the use of, get back in shape, jog your memory, come to your senses, be in your right mind again, come to your senses, be in your right mind again, smile again, find dead, find your way again, find yourself out on the street, find yourself out of a job, find yourself unemployed, find yourself back at square one, find yourself at square one again, fall, find yourself in trouble, find yourself in a fix, find yourself in a difficult situation, find yourself face to face with, talk to face to face, be torn, feel torn, be caught between two stools, find yourself face to face with, find yourself flat broke, be left high and dry, pass out, be on your own again, find yourself all alone. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word retrouver

find

verbe transitif (trouver ce qui était perdu)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Mince, je ne retrouve plus mes lunettes. Le garçon a retrouvé son chien chez le voisin.
The boy's dog turned up at the neighbour's house.

encounter again

verbe transitif (trouver encore)

La France retrouve l'Italie en finale, contre qui elle avait déjà joué en match de qualification. Je ne veux plus vous retrouver sur mon chemin.
France will meet Italy again in the final; the two sides have already played against each other in the qualifiers.

find new

verbe transitif (pouvoir encore trouver) (uncountable)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il est souvent difficile de retrouver du travail après 50 ans.

get back

verbe transitif (reprendre un état) (feeling, desire)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")
Il a fallu du temps au patient pour retrouver enfin l'appétit.
It took a while for the patient to get his appetite back.

remember

verbe transitif (se rappeler)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Le vieil homme avait du mal à retrouver ses mots. Mince, je ne retrouve plus ce que je voulais dire.
The old man had trouble finding his words.

get back to

verbe transitif (revoir)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je suis contente de retrouver mes élèves. La jeune femme était heureuse de retrouver sa Bretagne natale.
I'm glad to get back to my pupils. The young woman was glad to get back to Brittany, the region of her birth.

meet

verbe transitif (se réunir avec [qqn])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Nous te retrouverons à la piscine.
We will meet you at the pool.

meet again, meet again, find again

verbe pronominal (être de nouveau ensemble)

Après si longtemps, les deux amis étaient contents de se retrouver.
After such a long time, the two friends were happy to find each other again.

meet

verbe pronominal (se réunir avec [qqn])

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Retrouvons-nous au cinéma ce soir. Nous avons prévu de nous retrouver à 17 heures chez Pascal.
Shall we meet at the cinema tonight? We've planned to meet at 5 pm at Pascal's.

meet at 's house

(avoir rendez-vous chez [qqn])

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

verbe pronominal (devenir soudainement [qch])

(transitive verb and reflexive pronoun: Transitive verb with reflexive pronoun--for example, "Enjoy yourself." "They behaved themselves.")
Après la mort de ma femme, je me suis retrouvé seul.
After the death of my wife, I found myself alone.

find yourself [somewhere]

verbe pronominal (finir dans un endroit)

(transitive verb and reflexive pronoun: Transitive verb with reflexive pronoun--for example, "Enjoy yourself." "They behaved themselves.")
J'ai roulé pendant 10 minutes et me suis finalement retrouvé dans la ville voisine.
I drove for ten minutes and finally found myself in the next town.

get your bearings

verbe pronominal (s'orienter dans un lieu)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je ne me retrouve plus dans ce nouveau quartier.
I can't get my bearings in this new neighbourhood.

get your bearings

verbe pronominal (se repérer)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Avec toutes ces marques différentes, j'ai du mal à m'y retrouver !
With all these different brands, I'm having trouble getting my bearings!

be found

verbe pronominal (apparaître)

Ce thème se retrouve aussi dans l'œuvre de Baudelaire.
This theme is also found in Baudelaire's work.

see yourself in

verbe pronominal (reconnaître ses traits dans [qqn] d'autre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Marie se retrouve bien dans sa troisième fille.
Marie definitely sees herself in her third daughter.

find yourself with

(être dans une situation)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Quand son mari l'a quittée, Catherine s'est retrouvée avec deux enfants en bas âge à gérer toute seule. // Si nous ne respectons pas les consignes de sécurité, nous pourrions nous retrouver avec une deuxième vague.
If we do not follow the safety rules, If we do not follow the safety instructions, we could end up with a new wave of the epidemic.

find yourself doing

(en être réduit à faire [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les enfants partis, nous nous retrouverons à nous occuper du chien.
With the children gone, we will find ourselves looking after the dog.

find you like

verbe pronominal (être gagnant)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Avec toutes les offres de voyage à tous les prix, tout le monde s'y retrouve !
With travel offers to suit all pockets, everyone can find something they like!

recognize

verbe transitif (voir des similitudes)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Je retrouve bien chez Julie toute l'espièglerie de son père. On retrouve chez ce compositeur des sonorités baroques.

find work

locution verbale (trouver à nouveau un emploi)

recover your appetite, get your appetite back

locution verbale (avoir à nouveau faim)

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

regain the use of

locution verbale (pouvoir à nouveau se servir de [qch])

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

get back in shape

locution verbale (se refaire une santé)

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

jog your memory

locution verbale (figuré (finir par se rappeler de [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Alors, tu étais où samedi soir ? Voilà une photo qui devrait t'aider à retrouver la mémoire.
So, where were you on Saturday night? Here's a photo that should help you get your memory back.

come to your senses, be in your right mind again

locution verbale (redevenir raisonnable)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")

come to your senses, be in your right mind again

locution verbale (cesser d'être irréaliste)

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

smile again

locution verbale (figuré (aller mieux)

Grâce à mon nouveau compagnon, j'ai retrouvé le sourire.

find dead

verbe transitif (finir par trouver [qqn] mais mort)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")

find your way again

locution verbale (ne plus être perdu)

find yourself out on the street

locution verbale (ne plus avoir de domicile)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Après avoir perdu son travail et son appartement, il s'est retrouvé à la rue.

find yourself out of a job, find yourself unemployed

(perdre son emploi)

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

find yourself back at square one, find yourself at square one again

(figuré (ne pas avoir avancé) (figurative)

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

fall

locution verbale (familier (être tombé sur le dos)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Elle se balançait sur sa chaise et s'est retrouvée cul par-dessus tête.

find yourself in trouble, find yourself in a fix

(avoir des ennuis)

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

find yourself in a difficult situation

(avoir des ennuis)

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

find yourself face to face with

(être en vis à vis)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Monique s'est retrouvé face à face avec son cousin dans le métro.

talk to face to face

(s'expliquer sans intermédiaire)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Il sera plus facile de nous expliquer si nous nous retrouvons face à face avec eux.

be torn, feel torn

locution verbale (figuré, familier (hésiter entre 2 options)

Il me propose une sortie ciné le soir de l'anniversaire d'une amie ; je me retrouve le cul entre deux chaises

be caught between two stools

locution verbale (figuré, familier (être en situation inconfortable) (figurative, colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Je me retrouve le cul entre deux chaises avec ce client qui hésite et mes objectifs mensuels.

find yourself face to face with

locution verbale (familier (se retrouver face à face avec [qqn])

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

find yourself flat broke

(familier (finir ruiné, sans argent) (colloquial)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Après plusieurs investissements malheureux, cet homme d'affaires s'est retrouvé sur la paille.

be left high and dry

(familier, figuré (tout perdre) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Après la faillite de leur boîte, ce couple s'est retrouvé sur le carreau.

pass out

(familier (s'évanouir) (informal)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")
L'épouse de la victime s'est retrouvée sur le carreau à l'annonce du décès de son mari.

be on your own again

(relation : être largué)

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

find yourself all alone

(avoir fait fuir ses connaissances)

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

Let's learn French

So now that you know more about the meaning of retrouver in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

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French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.