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A1 verb #1,500 más común 10 min de lectura

arrriver

Top 1,500

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos arrriver en 30 segundos

Explicación arrriver in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'arriver' is primarily used to express physical arrival at a destination. Students learn it as a regular -er verb in the present tense (j'arrive, tu arrives). It is essential for basic travel vocabulary, such as 'Le train arrive à la gare.' At this stage, learners should focus on the basic meaning of reaching a place and the fact that it uses 'être' in the passé composé, although complex agreements aren't yet expected to be perfect. The concept of 'J'arrive !' as 'I'm coming' is also introduced here.

At A2, learners expand 'arriver' to include time-based arrivals and the beginning of its use as 'to happen.' They start to use it in more complex sentences with prepositions like 'à' and 'de' (arriver à Paris, arriver de Londres). The passé composé with 'être' becomes a major focus, requiring subject-verb agreement. Students also begin to encounter 'arriver à' + infinitive to mean 'to manage to do something' in simple contexts, like 'J'arrive à parler un peu français.'

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By B1, the use of 'arriver à' to mean 'to succeed' or 'to manage' becomes a core part of the student's expressive toolkit. They use it to describe overcoming daily obstacles. The impersonal construction 'il arrive que' starts to appear, though usually in the present tense. Learners are expected to handle the passé composé with 'être' and all its agreements flawlessly. They also begin to learn common idioms like 'arriver à point nommé' (to arrive at just the right time).

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At the B2 level, students use 'arriver' with much more nuance. They can distinguish between 'arriver,' 'parvenir,' and 'atteindre' in various contexts. The impersonal 'il arrive que' is used correctly with the subjunctive mood. They understand the difference between 'Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?' and 'Qu'est-ce qui arrive ?'. Learners can use 'arriver' to discuss abstract concepts, such as reaching a compromise or an event occurring in a narrative, using a variety of tenses including the plus-que-parfait.

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C1 learners use 'arriver' in sophisticated ways, including its literary and formal applications. They are comfortable with structures like 'en arriver à' (to come to the point of). They can use 'arriver' to describe subtle shifts in state or the culmination of long-term processes. The verb is used effortlessly in professional and academic writing to describe the occurrence of phenomena or the attainment of complex research goals. They also master the use of 'arriver' in various registers, from slang to high literature.

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At the C2 level, the mastery of 'arriver' is absolute. The speaker can use it to convey philosophical nuances, such as the 'arrival' of an idea or the 'occurrence' of existential events. They understand the historical etymology and how it influences modern usage. They can play with the verb in wordplay, puns, and complex stylistic constructions. The distinction between 'arriver' and its most obscure synonyms is clear, and they can use the verb to express the finest shades of meaning in any given context.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

arrriver en 30 segundos

Primary meaning: To arrive at a physical location or a specific point in time.
Secondary meaning: To happen or occur (often used impersonally: 'il arrive').
Functional meaning: To manage or succeed in doing something (arriver à + verb).
Grammar note: Always uses 'être' in the passé composé and agrees with the subject.

The French verb arriver is a cornerstone of the French language, primarily functioning as a verb of movement and occurrence. At its most fundamental level, it translates to 'to arrive' or 'to reach a destination.' However, its utility extends far beyond simple physical displacement. In French, arriver is also used to describe events taking place, much like the English 'to happen' or 'to occur.' Furthermore, when paired with the preposition 'à,' it takes on the meaning of 'to manage' or 'to succeed in doing something,' making it indispensable for expressing achievement. This multifaceted nature requires learners to understand the context in which it is used, as the auxiliary verb for its compound tenses is always être, marking it as a verb of motion in the classic 'Dr. & Mrs. Vandertramp' mnemonic. Understanding arriver involves grasping its three main pillars: physical arrival, the occurrence of an event, and the attainment of a goal. Whether you are discussing a train pulling into a station, a sudden accident, or your success in learning a difficult grammar point, arriver is the verb you will reach for most frequently.

Physical Motion: The act of reaching a specific place or point in time. It often answers the question 'Where?' or 'When?'.

Le train va arriver à midi pile à la gare de Lyon.

Event Occurrence: Used impersonally (il arrive) to indicate that something is happening or has happened unexpectedly.

Il arrive parfois que les choses ne se passent pas comme prévu.

Achievement: When followed by 'à' and an infinitive, it signifies succeeding in a task despite difficulties.

Après des heures de travail, j'ai enfin arrivé à résoudre ce problème.

Qu'est-ce qui t'est arrivé hier soir ? Tu avais l'air triste.

Nous arrivons au terme de notre présentation aujourd'hui.

Mastering arriver requires a deep dive into its grammatical structures and prepositional pairings. As a regular -er verb, its conjugation is straightforward in the present tense (j'arrive, tu arrives, il arrive, nous arrivons, vous arrivez, ils arrivent). However, the complexity arises in the past tenses. Because it is a verb of movement, the passé composé is formed with être. This means the past participle arrivé must agree in gender and number with the subject: 'Elle est arrivée' (feminine singular) or 'Ils sont arrivés' (masculine plural). This is a frequent point of error for English speakers who are used to the single auxiliary 'have'. Beyond movement, the structure arriver à + [infinitive] is a vital idiomatic construction. It replaces the more formal 'réussir à' in many daily conversations. For instance, 'Je n'arrive pas à dormir' means 'I can't manage to sleep.' Note that 'can't' is often translated using arriver when it implies a lack of success in an attempt, rather than a lack of permission or theoretical ability. Another advanced usage is the impersonal 'Il arrive que...' which triggers the subjunctive mood. This structure is used to describe things that happen occasionally or under certain conditions. For example, 'Il arrive qu'il pleuve en plein été' (It happens that it rains in the middle of summer). This impersonal 'il' does not refer to a person but acts as a placeholder, similar to 'it' in English. Finally, pay attention to the preposition 'de'. While 'arriver à' means arriving at a destination, 'arriver de' means arriving from a place. 'Je viens d'arriver de Paris' (I just arrived from Paris). These nuances are what separate a beginner from an intermediate speaker.

Auxiliary Agreement: Always use 'être' and agree the participle with the subject. 'Elles sont arrivées tôt.'

Ma sœur est arrivée hier soir sans prévenir personne.

The 'Manage To' Structure: Use 'arriver à' + verb to express succeeding in a task. 'J'arrive à comprendre.'

Est-ce que tu arrives à lire ce qui est écrit sur le tableau ?

Impersonal 'Il': Used to describe occurrences. 'Il m'arrive de...' means 'It happens to me that I...'

Il lui arrive souvent d'oublier ses clés sur la table.

Nous sommes arrivés à un compromis après de longues négociations.

Quoi qu'il arrive, je serai là pour te soutenir dans tes projets.

The verb arriver is ubiquitous in French daily life, echoing through train stations, airports, and casual conversations alike. If you are traveling in France, the first place you will encounter it is on the 'Arrivées' (Arrivals) board at the SNCF station. Announcements will frequently state, 'Le train en provenance de Marseille va arriver quai numéro 4.' In a social context, it is the standard verb for checking on someone's progress. A friend might text you, 'Tu arrives quand ?' (When are you arriving?) or simply 'J'arrive !' to mean 'I'm on my way' or 'I'm almost there.' In professional settings, arriver is used to discuss deadlines and reaching goals. A manager might ask, 'Est-ce que vous arrivez à finir le rapport pour demain ?' Here, it shifts from physical movement to the ability to complete a task. In news broadcasts, you will hear it used for events: 'Un accident est arrivé sur l'autoroute A1.' This impersonal usage is formal and precise. Furthermore, in literature and cinema, 'arriver' is used to build tension or describe the climax of a journey. It is also found in many common idioms like 'arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe' (to arrive at the most awkward moment). Whether you are ordering a taxi, waiting for a friend at a café, or listening to a weather report about a storm 'arriving' on the coast, this verb is your constant companion. It bridges the gap between the physical world and the world of abstract events and achievements.

Public Transport: Used for trains, planes, and buses. 'Arrivée prévue à 10h30.'

Attention, le train va arriver en gare. Éloignez-vous de la bordure du quai.

Daily Check-ins: Common in texts and calls. 'J'arrive dans cinq minutes !'

On arrive bientôt, on est juste au coin de la rue.

News & Media: Reporting occurrences. 'Il est arrivé un grand malheur dans le village.'

Un nouvel arrivage de produits frais vient d'arriver au marché ce matin.

L'hiver arrive à grands pas cette année.

Est-ce que tu arrives à me voir à travers la foule ?

One of the most frequent pitfalls for learners of French is the auxiliary verb choice for arriver. Many students instinctively use avoir because 'to arrive' doesn't feel like a 'reflexive' or 'passive' action, but in French, it is strictly a verb of movement requiring être. Saying 'J'ai arrivé' is a hallmark of a beginner and will immediately sound incorrect to a native speaker. Always remember: 'Je suis arrivé.' Another common error involves the preposition following the verb. Learners often confuse 'arriver à' and 'arriver de'. Remember that 'à' points toward the destination or the goal (arriver à Paris, arriver à comprendre), while 'de' points toward the origin (arriver de Lyon). A more subtle mistake occurs with the meaning 'to manage to.' English speakers often try to use 'pouvoir' (can) in every situation where they mean 'I can't do this.' However, if the inability is due to difficulty or lack of success in an attempt, arriver à is much more natural. For example, 'Je ne peux pas ouvrir la porte' might mean you aren't allowed to, whereas 'Je n'arrive pas à ouvrir la porte' means you are trying but the key is stuck. Additionally, the impersonal use 'Il arrive que...' is often misused. Learners sometimes forget that this 'il' is neutral and doesn't refer to a specific person. They might try to say 'Il arrive à pleuvoir' instead of the correct 'Il se met à pleuvoir' or the impersonal 'Il arrive qu'il pleuve.' Finally, spelling is a minor but real issue; the verb has two 'r's (arriver), not three as sometimes seen in typos. Paying attention to these details—auxiliary, prepositions, and contextual meaning—will significantly elevate your French proficiency.

Auxiliary Error: Using 'avoir' instead of 'être'. Correct: 'Je suis arrivé.'

Faux : J'ai arrivé en retard. Vrai : Je suis arrivé en retard.

Preposition Confusion: Confusing 'à' (to) and 'de' (from). 'J'arrive à la maison' vs 'J'arrive de la maison.'

Elle arrive de Londres (She is coming from London).

Misusing 'Pouvoir': Using 'pouvoir' when 'arriver à' (managing to) is more appropriate for success.

Je n'arrive pas à finir mon assiette, c'est trop copieux.

Il m'arrive de faire des erreurs, c'est humain.

Nous sommes arrivés à bon port après ce long voyage.

While arriver is the most common verb for arriving, several synonyms offer more precision depending on the context. 'Venir' (to come) is the most frequent alternative, but it focuses on the movement toward the speaker, whereas arriver focuses on the completion of the journey. 'Parvenir' is a more formal synonym that implies reaching a destination or a goal after significant effort or through a specific channel (e.g., 'parvenir à un accord'). 'Atteindre' (to reach) is used when hitting a target, a physical limit, or a specific level (e.g., 'atteindre le sommet'). For the sense of 'happening,' 'se passer' and 'arriver' are often interchangeable, but 'se passer' is more about the process of an event unfolding, while arriver often implies a sudden or unexpected occurrence. 'Survenir' and 'advenir' are more literary terms for happening; 'survenir' often suggests something unexpected and potentially problematic, like a complication. When discussing success, 'réussir' is the direct synonym for 'arriver à'. While 'réussir' is very common, 'arriver à' is frequently preferred in spoken French for everyday tasks. Understanding these subtle differences allows you to choose the word that perfectly fits the tone and nuance of your sentence.

Arriver vs Venir: 'Arriver' is the end of the trip; 'Venir' is the movement toward the speaker.

Il vient nous voir demain, il devrait arriver vers 10h.

Arriver vs Parvenir: 'Parvenir' is more formal and often implies overcoming obstacles.

Nous sommes enfin parvenus à un accord mutuel.

Arriver vs Se passer: 'Se passer' describes the event's flow; 'arriver' focuses on its occurrence.

Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ? Qu'est-ce qui t'est arrivé ?

Il est arrivé à ses fins malgré les critiques.

Une catastrophe est arrivée pendant notre absence.

How Formal Is It?

Guía de pronunciación

Rima con

Nivel de dificultad

Gramática que debes saber

Verbs of motion using 'être'

Past participle agreement

Impersonal verbs

Subjunctive after 'il arrive que'

Prepositions with cities and countries

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Ejemplos por nivel

Le train arrive à la gare.

The train is arriving at the station.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

J'arrive à huit heures.

I am arriving at eight o'clock.

Using 'arriver' for time.

Tu arrives quand ?

When are you arriving?

Interrogative sentence.

Nous arrivons à Paris.

We are arriving in Paris.

Preposition 'à' before a city.

Elle arrive chez moi.

She is arriving at my place.

Preposition 'chez' for a person's home.

Ils arrivent demain.

They are arriving tomorrow.

Future intent with present tense.

Le bus arrive bientôt.

The bus is arriving soon.

Adverb 'bientôt' with 'arriver'.

Vous arrivez en retard.

You are arriving late.

Expression 'en retard'.

Je suis arrivé hier soir.

I arrived last night.

Passé composé with 'être'.

Elle est arrivée à l'heure.

She arrived on time.

Agreement of past participle (feminine).

Est-ce que tu arrives à lire ?

Can you manage to read?

'Arriver à' + infinitive.

Nous sommes arrivés de Lyon.

We arrived from Lyon.

Preposition 'de' for origin.

Il arrive souvent en retard.

He often arrives late.

Adverb 'souvent' placement.

Les colis sont arrivés ce matin.

The packages arrived this morning.

Plural agreement of 'arrivés'.

Qu'est-ce qui est arrivé ?

What happened?

Impersonal use of 'arriver'.

On arrive à la fin du livre.

We are reaching the end of the book.

Metaphorical arrival.

Je n'arrive pas à comprendre cet exercice.

I can't manage to understand this exercise.

Negative 'ne...pas' with 'arriver à'.

Il arrive qu'il pleuve en été.

It happens that it rains in summer.

Impersonal 'il arrive que' + subjunctive.

Nous sommes arrivés à un accord.

We have reached an agreement.

Abstract destination.

Elle est arrivée à ses fins.

She achieved her goals.

Idiomatic expression.

Si tu travailles dur, tu y arriveras.

If you work hard, you will get there (succeed).

Future tense with pronoun 'y'.

Il lui arrive de se tromper.

It happens to him that he makes mistakes.

Impersonal construction with indirect object.

Le succès est enfin arrivé.

Success has finally arrived.

Abstract subject.

Comment es-tu arrivé à faire ça ?

How did you manage to do that?

Interrogative with 'être' auxiliary.

Quoi qu'il arrive, je resterai calme.

Whatever happens, I will stay calm.

Subjunctive after 'quoi que'.

Il est arrivé un accident grave.

A serious accident occurred.

Impersonal 'il' with an inverted subject.

Nous en sommes arrivés à cette conclusion.

We have come to this conclusion.

Expression 'en arriver à'.

Il arrive parfois que la chance tourne.

It sometimes happens that luck turns.

Impersonal construction with adverb.

Elle n'arrive pas à se faire à l'idée.

She can't manage to get used to the idea.

Pronominal verb after 'arriver à'.

L'hiver arrive à grands pas.

Winter is approaching fast.

Idiom 'à grands pas'.

Il est arrivé premier à la course.

He finished first in the race.

Adjective 'premier' as a complement.

J'espère que tout arrivera à temps.

I hope everything will arrive on time.

Future tense in a subordinate clause.

Comment en est-on arrivé là ?

How did we get to this point?

Rhetorical question with 'en'.

Il arrive que le destin nous surprenne.

It happens that fate surprises us.

Literary impersonal usage.

Il est arrivé à maturité.

It has reached maturity.

Abstract state of being.

Rien de tel ne lui était arrivé auparavant.

Nothing like that had happened to him before.

Plus-que-parfait with 'être'.

Il arrive à point nommé pour nous aider.

He arrives at just the right time to help us.

Idiom 'à point nommé'.

On n'arrive pas à bout de ce problème.

We can't get to the bottom of this problem.

Idiom 'arriver à bout de'.

Tout arrive à qui sait attendre.

Everything comes to those who wait.

Proverbial usage.

Il est arrivé un moment où j'ai dû choisir.

A moment came when I had to choose.

Impersonal 'il' introducing a time.

L'aboutissement de ses recherches arrive enfin.

The culmination of his research is finally arriving.

High-level abstract subject.

Il arrive que l'on se perde dans ses pensées.

It happens that one gets lost in one's thoughts.

Indefinite 'on' in a subjunctive clause.

L'heure de la vérité a fini par arriver.

The hour of truth finally arrived.

Compound verb structure.

Il est arrivé comme un cheveu sur la soupe.

He arrived at the most awkward moment.

Colloquial idiom.

Peu importe ce qui peut arriver.

No matter what might happen.

Subjunctive with 'pouvoir'.

Il est arrivé à un tel degré d'excellence.

He has reached such a degree of excellence.

Expressing intensity.

Le dénouement arrive de façon inattendue.

The resolution arrives in an unexpected way.

Narrative structure.

Il arrive que les mots manquent.

It happens that words are lacking.

Poetic impersonal usage.

Colocaciones comunes

arriver à l'heure

arriver en retard

arriver à destination

arriver à point

arriver à ses fins

arriver au sommet

arriver à bout

arriver en tête

arriver par hasard

arriver soudainement

Frases Comunes

J'arrive !

Ça arrive.

Quoi qu'il arrive.

Il arrive que...

Arriver à faire quelque chose.

En arriver à.

Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe.

Arriver à bon port.

Faire arriver.

Arriver premier.

Se confunde a menudo con

arrriver vs venir

arrriver vs passer

arrriver vs réussir

Modismos y expresiones

"Arriver comme un cheveu sur la soupe"

"Arriver à point nommé"

"En arriver aux mains"

"Arriver à ses fins"

"Tout arrive à qui sait attendre"

"Arriver après la bataille"

"Arriver bon dernier"

"Arriver à la cheville de quelqu'un"

"Arriver à bout de souffle"

"Arriver comme les carabiniers"

Fácil de confundir

arrriver vs Arrivée

The noun (the arrival) vs the verb.

arrriver vs Arriviste

A person who is overly ambitious (negative connotation).

arrriver vs Atteindre

To reach a physical limit or goal, more formal than arriver.

Patrones de oraciones

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Cómo usarlo

impersonal

The impersonal 'il' in 'il arrive' is always masculine singular.

prepositions

Use 'à' for cities and 'en' for feminine countries (arriver à Paris, arriver en France).

Errores comunes

Using 'avoir' as the auxiliary verb.
Forgetting the agreement of the past participle.
Confusing 'arriver à' (manage to) with 'pouvoir' (can).
Using 'arriver' when 'venir' (coming toward) is more appropriate.
Spelling 'arriver' with three 'r's.

Consejos

Agreement

Don't forget to add an 'e' for feminine subjects and an 's' for plural subjects in the passé composé.

Speed

In casual French, 'Je suis' often sounds like 'Chuis'. So 'Je suis arrivé' sounds like 'Chuis arrivé'.

Synonyms

Use 'parvenir' in formal writing to sound more sophisticated when describing reaching a goal.

Punctuality

Remember the 'quart d'heure de politesse' when arriving at a friend's house in France.

Manage To

Use 'arriver à' for everyday struggles, like 'Je n'arrive pas à ouvrir ce bocal'.

Announcements

Listen for 'arriver' at train stations; it's usually followed by the platform number ('quai').

Subjunctive

Practice 'Il arrive que...' with the subjunctive to improve your academic writing.

Awkwardness

Use 'comme un cheveu sur la soupe' to describe someone arriving at a bad time.

Vandertramp

Memorize 'arriver' as part of the house of être to never miss the auxiliary.

Double R

The double 'r' in 'arriver' is pronounced as a single French 'r' sound.

Memorízalo

Origen de la palabra

Latin 'arripare'

Contexto cultural

Arriving exactly on time for a dinner party in France can sometimes be seen as too early; 15 minutes late is often preferred.

SNCF announcements use 'arriver' constantly, making it one of the first words travelers hear.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Inicios de conversación

"À quelle heure arrives-tu ?"

"Est-ce que tu arrives à finir ton travail ?"

"Qu'est-ce qui t'est arrivé hier ?"

"Comment es-tu arrivé à apprendre le français ?"

"Il t'arrive souvent de voyager ?"

Temas para diario

Décrivez votre arrivée dans une nouvelle ville.

Parlez d'une chose que vous n'arriviez pas à faire, mais que vous avez réussie.

Qu'est-ce qui arrive quand on ne fait pas attention ?

Imaginez votre arrivée idéale en vacances.

Racontez un événement surprenant qui vous est arrivé.

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

It is always 'Je suis arrivé'. Arriver is a verb of motion that requires the auxiliary 'être' in all compound tenses.

When followed by an infinitive, 'arriver à' means 'to manage to' or 'to succeed in' doing something.

Yes, especially in the impersonal form 'il arrive' or 'ça arrive'. For example, 'Qu'est-ce qui est arrivé ?' means 'What happened?'

You can say 'J'arrive !' It is the standard way to tell someone you are on your way or arriving shortly.

Yes, 'il arrive que' is generally followed by the subjunctive mood because it expresses an occasional or uncertain occurrence.

'Arriver' focuses on reaching the destination, while 'venir' focuses on the movement toward the speaker.

It is a regular -er verb: j'arriverai, tu arriveras, il arrivera, nous arriverons, vous arriverez, ils arriveront.

Yes, you can say 'L'hiver arrive' or 'L'heure arrive' to mean a time or season is approaching.

It means 'to come to' or 'to reach a certain point', often implying a progression or a negative result.

Yes, to 'arriver premier' or 'arriver en tête' means to finish a race in first place.

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