French Travel Verbs Explained: Venir, Aller, Revenir, Retourner & Rentrer
If you are learning French, you’ve probably noticed something frustrating:
English uses just “to go” and “to come”, but French seems to have many more travel verbs — and native speakers are very precise about which one they choose.
The verbs venir, aller, revenir, retourner and rentrer are everywhere in everyday French: travel, work, social life, daily routines.
They look similar, but they do not mean the same thing, and choosing the wrong one can sound strange or confusing.
The good news? Once you understand the logic behind direction, reference point and “home”, these verbs become much easier. Let’s break them down one by one.
1. Venir – “to come” (towards the speaker)
Venir is used when the movement is towards the speaker or towards the place where the speaker is.
Think: “Come here.”
Examples
Je viens à Paris demain.
I’m coming to Paris tomorrow.Vous venez souvent ici ?
Do you often come here?
👉 Use venir when the destination is where the speaker is (or considers themselves to be).
2. Aller – “to go” (away from the speaker)
Aller expresses movement away from the speaker, towards another place.
Think: “Go there.”
Examples
Je vais en Italie cet été.
I’m going to Italy this summer.Elle va au travail à pied.
She goes to work on foot.
👉 Aller is neutral and extremely common — it’s the default verb for movement.
3. Revenir – “to come back” (towards the speaker)
Revenir means to come back, but specifically towards the speaker or a reference point.
Examples
Je reviens à Paris dimanche.
I’m coming back to Paris on Sunday.Quand est-ce que tu reviens nous voir ?
When are you coming back to see us?
👉 Key idea: return + towards the speaker.
Conjugation of the verb Revenir
4. Retourner – “to go back” (neutral return)
Retourner also means to go back, but without focusing on the speaker’s position.
It’s more neutral and often used for repeated actions or habits.
Examples
Je retourne au bureau après le déjeuner.
I’m going back to the office after lunch.Ils retournent souvent en Grèce.
They often go back to Greece.
👉 Retourner is about the action of returning, not about where you are.
Conjugation of the verb Retourner
5. Rentrer – “to go home / to return” (idea of home or routine)
Rentrer usually implies home, a familiar place, or the idea of ending a journey.
Examples
Je rentre chez moi à 19h.
I go home at 7 p.m.Nous rentrons de voyage demain.
We’re coming back from our trip tomorrow.
👉 Think home, routine, inside.
Conjugation of the verb Rentrer
6 - Common Mistakes with French Travel Verbs (and How to Fix Them)
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with venir, aller, revenir, retourner and rentrer is choosing the verb based on the English translation instead of the point of reference.
For example, many students say ❌ Je vais chez toi ce soir when they are talking to the person they’re visiting. In that case, the correct sentence is ✅ Je viens chez toi ce soir, because the movement is towards the speaker.
Another very common error is confusing revenir and retourner.
Learners often say ❌ Je retourne à Paris demain when they mean they are coming back to where the speaker is; the correct choice is ✅ Je reviens à Paris demain. Retourner is neutral and focuses on the action of going back, not the speaker’s position.
Rentrer is also frequently misused: ❌ Je reviens à la maison is understandable, but in everyday French, ✅ Je rentre à la maison sounds much more natural because rentrer implies returning home or to a familiar place. Finally, aller is sometimes overused as a default verb: ❌ Je vais te voir ce soir can be correct, but when the listener is the destination, ✅ Je viens te voir ce soir is often the more natural choice.
👉 Key takeaway: always ask yourself “Where is the speaker?” and “Is this about going somewhere, coming here, coming back, or going home?” — that question alone helps avoid most mistakes.
7- Exercise – Fill in the blanks (15 sentences)
Complete the sentences with the correct verb:
venir – aller – revenir – retourner – rentrer
(Conjugate if necessary.)
Demain, je ______ à Bordeaux pour le travail.
Tu ______ avec nous au restaurant ce soir ?
Elle ______ chez elle très tard le soir.
Nous ______ à Paris après trois mois à l’étranger.
Il ______ souvent dans son pays d’origine.
Vous ______ quand de vacances ?
Je ______ te voir demain matin.
Ils ______ au cinéma après le dîner.
Elle ______ travailler après la pause déjeuner.
On ______ à la maison vers 18h.
Tu ______ souvent ici le week-end ?
Je ______ en France tous les étés.
Nous ______ chez nos amis dimanche soir.
Il ______ à son bureau pour récupérer ses affaires.
Vous ______ nous voir quand à Paris ?
✅ Answers
vais
viens
rentre
revenons
retourne
revenez
viens
vont
retourne
rentre
viens
vais
allons
retourne
venez