retornar

reh-tor-NAR/re.toɾˈnaɾ/

“retornar” means “to return” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to return🔊B1Verb

going back to a physical location or an earlier state

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to return / pay back🔊B2Verb

giving back an investment or a favor

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to return

Also: to go back

VerbB1regular arformal

Latin America

A traveler walking back through a garden gate towards a cozy house.

gerundretornando

past Participleretornado

infinitiveretornar

📝 In Action

Muchos migrantes sueñan con retornar a su tierra natal.

Many migrants dream of returning to their native land.

El avión tuvo que retornar al aeropuerto por el clima.

The plane had to return to the airport due to the weather.

Espero que la calma retorne a la ciudad pronto.

I hope calm returns to the city soon.

Word Connections

Synonyms

volver (to return / to come back)
regresar (to return / to go back)

Antonyms

partir (to leave)
marcharse (to go away)

Common Collocations

retornar al poder – to return to power
retornar a casa – to return home

to return / pay back

Also: to reciprocate

VerbB2regular arformal

One person handing a small wooden chest of gold coins to another person.

gerundretornando

past Participleretornado

infinitiveretornar

📝 In Action

La inversión retornó grandes beneficios.

The investment returned great profits.

Quiero retornar el favor que me hiciste.

I want to return the favor you did for me.

Word Connections

Synonyms

devolver (to return an object)
restituir (to restore / give back)

Antonyms

quedarse (to keep / stay)

Common Collocations

retornar un favor – to return a favor
retorno de inversión – return on investment

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesretornaran

yoretornara

túretornaras

vosotrosretornarais

nosotrosretornáramos

él/ella/ustedretornara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesretornen

yoretorne

túretornes

vosotrosretornéis

nosotrosretornemos

él/ella/ustedretorne

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesretornaron

yoretorné

túretornaste

vosotrosretornasteis

nosotrosretornamos

él/ella/ustedretornó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesretornaban

yoretornaba

túretornabas

vosotrosretornabais

nosotrosretornábamos

él/ella/ustedretornaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesretornan

yoretorno

túretornas

vosotrosretornáis

nosotrosretornamos

él/ella/ustedretorna

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Words that translate to "retornar" in Spanish:

to reciprocate→to return→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: retornar

Question 1 of 3

Which verb is more natural for returning a pair of shoes to a store?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

retorno(the return / the act of coming back) — Noun

retornable(returnable (like a bottle)) — Adjective

🎵 Rhymes▼

soñar lugar

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'retornare,' where 're-' means 'again' and 'tornare' means 'to turn.' It literally means 'to turn back.'

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: returnFrench: retourner

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'retornar' a stem-changing verb?

No, 'retornar' is a regular -ar verb. It does not change its middle 'o' to 'ue' like the word 'volver' does.

Can I use 'retornar' to mean 'to return a phone call'?

Yes, 'retornar la llamada' is a common and correct formal way to say 'to return the call'.

What is the main difference between 'regresar' and 'retornar'?

Both mean 'to go back,' but 'regresar' is more common in everyday speech, while 'retornar' sounds more elegant or formal.