French Conversation · Level 27
90 words
French word
rencontrer
Pronunciation
IPA/ʁɑ̃kɔ̃tʁe/
Meaning
- verbmeet
Example
Nous rencontrons souvent nos voisins au parc.
We often meet our neighbors at the park.
More examples
Hier, j'ai rencontré un ami par hasard dans la rue.
Yesterday, I met a friend by chance in the street.
Core concept
Two sides come face to face, with contact leading either to interaction or to a direct response to an obstacle.
Common phrases
rencontrer quelqu'un par hasard
meet someone by chance
rencontrer un collègue
meet a colleague
Similar words
voir: Seeing someone and confirming their presence or appearance.
croiser: Passing someone by or coming across them by chance.
retrouver: Meeting someone again after having met before.
faire la connaissance de: Meeting someone for the first time and beginning to get acquainted.
Definition in French
Se trouver en présence d'une personne ou d'un fait et entrer en relation; s'emploie pour une rencontre prévue ou fortuite, et pour l'action de faire face à une difficulté.
Word origin
Rencontrer comes from Old French encontrer, related to Latin contra, meaning 'against' or 'opposite', and developed from facing something to meeting a person or confronting a problem.
Usage tips
- Rencontrer takes a direct object for a person or problem, so French says rencontrer quelqu'un and rencontrer une difficulté without a preposition.