acontecer
“acontecer” means “to happen” in Spanish (referring to events or occurrences).
to happen
Also: to take place, to occur
📝 In Action
Nadie sabe qué va a acontecer en el futuro.
B1Nobody knows what is going to happen in the future.
Los hechos que están por acontecer cambiarán nuestra historia.
B2The events that are about to take place will change our history.
Debemos estar preparados para cualquier cosa que pueda acontecer.
C1We must be prepared for anything that might occur.
Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Indicative
Preterite
Imperfect
Present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: acontecer
Question 1 of 3
Which word is a more casual, everyday synonym for 'acontecer'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'accontescere', which is related to the idea of things coming together or touching upon one another.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'pasar', 'ocurrir', and 'acontecer'?
'Pasar' is very common and casual. 'Ocurrir' is slightly more formal, like 'to occur'. 'Acontecer' is the most formal, often used for significant or historical events.
Can I use 'acontecer' to ask 'What happened?'
Technically yes, but it would sound very strange and overly dramatic, like asking 'What event hath transpired?'. Stick to '¿Qué pasó?' for daily life.
Is 'acontecer' used in all Spanish-speaking countries?
Yes, it is recognized everywhere, but it is always reserved for formal writing or high-level speech regardless of the country.