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ocurra

oh-KOO-rrah/oˈku.ra/

(that) it happens, (that) it occurs

Also: (that) I happen
VerbB1regular ir
A vibrant rainbow suddenly appearing in a bright blue sky above a green hill, symbolizing an event happening.
infinitiveocurrir
gerundocurriendo
past Participleocurrido

📝 In Action

Espero que no ocurra nada malo en el viaje.

B1

I hope that nothing bad happens on the trip.

Dudo que esto ocurra dos veces.

B2

I doubt that this will occur twice.

Cuando ocurra un problema, llámame.

B2

When a problem happens, call me. (Signaling future possibility)

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • suceda ((that) it happens)
  • pase ((that) it passes/happens)

Common Collocations

  • lo que ocurra – whatever happens
  • antes de que ocurra – before it happens

(that) it occurs to me/him/her

VerbB2regular (used pronominally) ir
A person sitting contemplatively with a bright yellow star shape floating above their head, representing an idea coming to mind.
infinitiveocurrírsele
gerundocurriéndosele
past Participleocurrídosele

📝 In Action

No creo que se me ocurra una idea mejor.

B2

I don't think a better idea will occur to me (come to my mind).

Espero que a ella se le ocurra algo.

B2

I hope that something occurs to her (she thinks of something).

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • piense ((that) he/she thinks of)
  • imagine ((that) he/she imagines)

Common Collocations

  • se me ocurra – it occurs to me
  • qué se le ocurra – what occurs to him/her (what he/she thinks of)

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedocurre
yoocurro
túocurres
ellos/ellas/ustedesocurren
nosotrosocurrimos
vosotrosocurrís

imperfect

él/ella/ustedocurría
yoocurría
túocurrías
ellos/ellas/ustedesocurrían
nosotrosocurríamos
vosotrosocurríais

preterite

él/ella/ustedocurrió
yoocurrí
túocurriste
ellos/ellas/ustedesocurrieron
nosotrosocurrimos
vosotrosocurristeis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedocurra
yoocurra
túocurras
ellos/ellas/ustedesocurran
nosotrosocurramos
vosotrosocurráis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedocurriera/ocurriese
yoocurriera/ocurriese
túocurrieras/ocurrieses
ellos/ellas/ustedesocurrieran/ocurriesen
nosotrosocurriéramos/ocurriésemos
vosotrosocurrierais/ocurrieseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ocurra

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'ocurra' to express a desire?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ocurrir(to happen, to occur) — Verb
ocurrencia(occurrence, witty remark) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
curraaburra
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *occurrere*, formed by combining *ob-* (meaning 'against' or 'toward') and *currere* (meaning 'to run'). The original sense was 'to run to meet' or 'to present itself,' which evolved into the modern Spanish meaning 'to happen' or 'to come to mind.'

First recorded: Medieval Latin

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: occorrerePortuguese: ocorrer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'ocurra' sound like a command sometimes?

In Spanish, the formal command for 'usted' (you, formal) uses the same form as the present subjunctive 'él/ella/usted'. So, while 'Que ocurra' usually means 'that it happens,' it can also be used as a formal command: 'Haga que esto ocurra' (Make this happen).

Is 'suceda' a good substitute for 'ocurra'?

Yes, 'suceda' (from 'suceder') is an excellent and very common synonym for the main meaning ('to happen'). They are interchangeable in most contexts related to events.