revenons

Revenons is a French verb form derived from revenir, meaning to come back or to return. It is the present tense form for the subject nous (we return) and can also function as the first-person plural imperative, meaning let us return. In dictionaries, revenons is described as the first-person plural present indicative and as a possible inclusive command in speech.

Etymology and form: The verb revenir comes from the prefix re- (back) combined with venir (to come). The present tense forms are irregular: je reviens, tu reviens, il revient, nous revenons, vous revenez, ils reviennent. Revenons therefore serves specifically to express a collective action by the speaker and others.

Usage: Revenons appears in everyday French and in formal or rhetorical contexts. It is commonly used to state a current action: “Nous revenons de la fête” (We are coming back from the party). It is also used in set phrases to redirect discussion, such as “revenons à nos moutons” (let us return to the main topic). The imperative sense is less common in isolation but is understood in contexts like “Revenons!” meaning “Let us return!”

Related forms and distinctions: The noun revenu (plural revenus) means income or earnings, a different part of speech with a related but distinct meaning. The past participle of revenir is revenu, used to form compound tenses (elle est revenue). Other related terms include revenant (a ghost or apparition) and revenir in other tenses and moods.

See also: revenir, revenu, revenant.