acontecer vs suceder
Portuguese word comparison
Listen to acontecer
Listen to suceder
| acontecer | suceder |
|---|---|
/a-con-te-CER/ verb | /[su-se-ˈdeʁ]/ verb |
| to happen; to take place | to happen; to take place; to follow |
How they differ
Suceder can mean 'to happen,' but it often sounds more literary, formal, or older than acontecer. It is also commonly used in the sense of one thing following another, so it can feel less everyday and more specific than acontecer.
When to use each
When to use acontecer: Use acontecer when you want the most natural and general verb for something taking place.
When to use suceder: Use suceder in formal writing, literary contexts, or when emphasizing that one event follows another.
Side-by-side examples
- Muita coisa aconteceu depois da reunião.
(A lot happened after the meeting.) - Muita coisa sucedeu depois da reunião.
(A lot happened after the meeting.)
Register & nuance: Suceder is more formal and literary than acontecer, and it is less common in everyday spoken Portuguese.