ocurre
/oh-KOO-rreh/
it happens
The image shows a sudden event—a sprout emerging from the ground—representing how ocurre means 'it happens' or 'it occurs.'
ocurre(Verb)
it happens
?when an event takes place
,it occurs
?slightly more formal, for events or problems
it takes place
?describing where or when an event is
📝 In Action
¿Qué ocurre?
A2What's happening?
El accidente ocurrió en la mañana.
B1The accident occurred in the morning.
No te preocupes, no ocurre nada.
A2Don't worry, nothing is happening.
💡 Grammar Points
Mostly for 'It'
Although you can say 'yo ocurro' (I happen), this verb is most often used in the third person ('él/ella/usted' form) to mean 'it happens' or 'they happen'.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Ocurrir' vs. 'Pasar'
'Ocurrir' and 'pasar' both mean 'to happen' and are often interchangeable. 'Ocurrir' can sound a little more formal, like you'd see in the news, while 'pasar' is more common in everyday chat.
Used in the reflexive form (se me ocurre), this meaning of ocurre indicates that an idea has just come to mind.
ocurre(Verb)
it occurs to (someone)
?an idea coming to mind
to think of
?coming up with an idea or solution
,to dawn on (someone)
?realizing something suddenly
📝 In Action
Se me ocurre una idea.
B1An idea occurs to me. (I have an idea.)
¿Se te ocurre algo para cenar?
B1Can you think of anything for dinner?
A mi jefe se le ocurrió una nueva estrategia.
B2My boss came up with a new strategy.
¡Ni se te ocurra tocar eso!
B2Don't you even think about touching that!
💡 Grammar Points
Verbs that Work Backwards (like 'Gustar')
This structure flips the English sentence. The idea is the star of the show. Instead of 'I have an idea,' you say 'Se me ocurre una idea,' which is like saying 'An idea happens to me.' The 'me' shows who the idea is happening to.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'se'
Mistake: "Me ocurre una idea."
Correction: Se me ocurre una idea. The 'se' is a required part of this expression; it signals that an idea is popping into someone's head.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Natural Way to Say 'I Have an Idea'
While 'Tengo una idea' is correct, 'Se me ocurre una idea' is often a more natural and common way to express that an idea just popped into your head.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ocurre
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly says 'I just had a great idea!'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between '¿Qué ocurre?' and '¿Qué pasa?'
They both mean 'What's happening?' and you can use them almost interchangeably. '¿Qué pasa?' is a bit more common and informal in everyday conversation. '¿Qué ocurre?' is perfectly normal too, but can sometimes sound slightly more serious or formal, as if you're asking about a specific problem or event.