Rentrer, revenir or retourner

[Frecossais]

I never know which  to use when I mean return.

I usually rentre en Angleterre. Can I say I reviens en Angleterre or I retourne en Angleterre?

Is there a distinction in meaning of all three?

[Clair]

You can use either of the verbs.

They each indicate the idea of a return to wherever.

Je rentre à Paris = I'm going (home) to Paris.

Je reviens à Paris = I'm coming back (again) to Paris/I'm returning to Paris (again).

Je retourne à Paris = I'm going back to Paris

[Frecossais]

Thank you Clair. Now I can vary my sentences a bit.

[Kitty]

I was once told that rentrer is not a happy word and so you should only use it when you are not happy about going back somewhere.  I had said 'je vais rentrer en France' and the person took it that I didn't really want to go back.

Is this correct?

[Clair]

It's instinctive when you're a native speaker! [:D]

I only ever have to think about the nuances when I'm asked what the differences are... [geek]

[Clair]

[quote user="Kitty"]I was once told that rentrer is not a happy word and so you should only use it when you are not happy about going back somewhere.  I had said 'je vais rentrer en France' and the person took it that I didn't really want to go back.

Is this correct?[/quote]

I disagree with that.

Rentrer has a connotation of going "home", to a familiar place.

For instance, if you're travelling for work, you would say that you're going to "rentrer" to indicate your return home...

Edit: if the sentence had been "Je dois rentrer...", this would indicate a reluctance to return, a decision forced by someone or by circumstances.