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retornar

to return

verb rreh-tohr-NAHR Rare

Also means

to go back

Usage Note

Retornar is a more formal or literary synonym of volver and regresar. It typically implies returning to a starting point and is common in written Spanish and news headlines. In everyday speech volver is preferred; retornar can sound stilted in casual conversation.

Examples

"Decidió retornar a su ciudad natal."

Natural Translation

He decided to return to his hometown.

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