rendre

Senses

1. 1.

   to give back, to return

   to hand back something that was borrowed or taken

2. 2.

   to make, to render

   to cause someone or something to be in a certain state or condition

3. 3.

   to produce, to yield

   to give forth or deliver (a decision, judgment, verdict)

4. 4.

   to translate, to render

   to express something in another language or form

Examples

• "Je dois rendre les livres à la bibliothèque avant vendredi."

  I have to return the books to the library before Friday.

• "Ce film m'a rendu vraiment heureux."

  This film made me really happy.

• "Comment rendre cette phrase en anglais?"

  How do you render this sentence into English?

Usage

Rendre is one of the most versatile French verbs. In the causative sense (to make), it pairs with an adjective or past participle: *rendre quelqu'un heureux* (to make someone happy). The reflexive form *se rendre* means "to go to" or "to surrender." Common in formal contexts and everyday speech.