retrouve

retrouve is a conjugated form of the French verb retrouver, meaning to find again, to recover, or to rediscover. It is used when something lost or separated is located again, when a state or condition is regained, or when someone reconnects with a person or place. The sense covers physical recovery, emotional or intellectual rediscovery, and the act of meeting someone again.

Etymology and usage notes: The verb retrouver comes from the prefix re- meaning again and the verb trouver (to find). It is commonly employed in everyday French to describe reclaiming possession, reuniting with someone, or reestablishing a footing after an absence. The form retrouve can be used for je retrouve (I find again) or il retrouve (he finds again), among other subject forms in the present tense.

Conjugation and forms: In addition to the present tense, common forms include passé composé with avoir retrouvé (j’ai retrouvé), imperfect retrouve- forms like je retrouvais, future retrouverai, and the subjunctive present que je retrouve. The past participle is retrouvé, used with auxiliary avoir in compound tenses. The gerund is en retrouvant. The related reflexive form se retrouver means to find oneself or to come together.

Typical constructions: retrouver quelque chose means to find something again (e.g., J’ai retrouvé mes clés). Retrouver quelqu’un can mean to meet or see someone again (e.g., Nous retrouvons nos amis). Se retrouver is used for reuniting, rediscovering one’s footing, or coming together in a situation.

See also: retrouver is related to redécouvrir (to rediscover), recouvrer (to regain, in legal or financial senses), and récupérer (to recover or to take back in various contexts).

Examples: Je retrouve mes clés sur la table. Elle retrouve son énergie après le traitement. Nous retrouvons le chemin de la maison.