Le préfixe re– et ses variantes
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The French prefix re- can be added to hundreds of verbs to make new verbs. Depending on the first letter of the verb it’s added to, re- has a few variations as well as some different meanings.
Re-
Generally speaking, re- is added to verbs that begin with a consonant or h aspiré:
| remarier | to remarry | (added to marier – to marry) | ||
| rehausser | to heighten | (added to hausser – to raise) |
The verb recycler is a little different: it was created by adding the prefix re– to the noun cycle to get recycle, which was then verbified.
Variants
While re- is the most common spelling, it can only be added to words that begin with a consonant other than s or h muet. For words that begin with s, h muet, or a vowel , you need a different spelling.
1) res-
Re- generally changes to res- in front of a verb starting with s:
| ressembler | to resemble | (added to sembler – to seem) | ||
| ressortir | to go out again | (added to sortir – to go out) |
2) ré- and r-
In front of a vowel or h muet, re- either takes on an accent (especially for Latin-based words) or contracts to r-. For a few verbs, both spellings exist.
| rentrer | to return home | (added to entrer – to enter) | ||
| rhabiller | to dress again | (added to habiller – to dress) | ||
| réélire | to re-elect | (added to élire – to elect) | ||
| réutiliser | to reuse | (added to utiliser – to use) | ||
| récrire, réécrire | to rewrite | (added to écrire – to write) |
Meanings of re- (and its variants)
1. To redo, to do again
| ressaisir | to seize again | (added to saisir – to seize) | ||
| rouvrir | to reopen | (added to ouvrir – to open) |
2. To return to a previous location, condition, or state of being
| réhabituer | to reaccustom (someone to something) |
(added to habituer – to accustom) | ||
| revenir | to come back | (added to venir – to come) |
3. To emphasize or reinforce a verb
| redoubler | to increase, redouble | (added to doubler – to double) | ||
| remercier | to thank | (added to mercier [archaic] – to thank) |
À noter
Because the prefix re- has more than one possible meaning, some verbs do too. Sometimes they even have new meanings unrelated to the root verb:
| rappeler | – to call back, to call again – to recall, remember |
(added to appeler – to call) | ||
| rejoindre | – to get back to, rejoin, reunite – to join (an organization) |
(added to joindre – to link, combine, to join [two things together]; to contact) | ||
| renvoyer | – to send back, to send again – to fire, dismiss |
(added to envoyer – to send) |
- The e in both re- and res- is pronounced [ə] (as a schwa or e muet).
- Ré- is pronounced [ʀe] (rhymes with né)
Related lessons
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