arriver vs survenir
French word comparison
Listen to arriver
Listen to survenir
| arriver | survenir |
|---|---|
/a-ree-VAY/ verb (intransitive) | //syʁ.və.niʁ// verb (intransitive) |
| to arrive; to happen or occur | to occur or happen, especially unexpectedly (often used for events or problems) |
How they differ
Survenir is used mainly for incidents or changes that occur, often unexpectedly or suddenly; arriver is more general and can mean both 'to arrive' (physically) and 'to happen', while survivre specifically emphasizes the unforeseen or intrusive nature of the event.
When to use each
When to use arriver: Prefer arriver when speaking generally about someone arriving somewhere or a neutral event taking place.
When to use survenir: Prefer survenir when you want to stress that an event, problem, or incident occurred unexpectedly or suddenly.
Side-by-side examples
- Le colis est arrivé ce matin.
(The package arrived this morning.) - Un incident est survenu pendant la réunion.
(An incident occurred during the meeting.)
Register & nuance: Survenir is slightly more formal and often used in written or formal spoken French for events or problems; arriver is more everyday and broader.