ocurren
/oh-KOO-rehn/
they happen
Events like a firework show 'ocurren' (happen) in the sky.
ocurren(verb)
they happen
?events taking place
,they occur
?general occurrence
they take place
?situations or ceremonies
📝 In Action
A veces ocurren accidentes en esta calle.
A2Sometimes accidents happen on this street.
Cosas extrañas ocurren por la noche.
A2Strange things occur at night.
💡 Grammar Points
Third Person Preference
You will almost always see 'ocurrir' used in the 'it' (ocurre) or 'they' (ocurren) forms, because people don't usually 'happen'—events do.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Happen to do something
Mistake: "I happen to know (Yo ocurro saber)."
Correction: Use 'Resulta que sé' or 'Por casualidad sé'. 'Ocurrir' is only for events taking place, not for 'happening to be' something.
⭐ Usage Tips
Unexpected Events
'Ocurrir' is perfect for unexpected or spontaneous events, like a surprise or an accident.
New ideas 'ocurren' (occur) to someone like a light turning on.
ocurren(verb)
they occur to (someone)
?ideas or thoughts
,they come to mind
?having thoughts
📝 In Action
Se me ocurren muchas ideas para el proyecto.
B1Many ideas are coming to me for the project.
¿No se te ocurren otras soluciones?
B1Can't you think of any other solutions?
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Se'
When an idea pops into your head, use 'se' + a pronoun (me, te, le). Example: 'Se me ocurren' means 'To me, they occur'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Passive Thinking
This is different from 'pensar' (to actively think). Use 'ocurren' when the idea just hits you out of nowhere.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
present
imperfect
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ocurren
Question 1 of 2
How would you say 'Many ideas occur to me'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'ocurren' regular?
Yes, 'ocurren' follows the regular pattern for verbs ending in -ir in the present tense.
Can I use 'ocurren' for people arriving?
No, even though the Latin root meant 'to run towards', in modern Spanish it only means to happen or for an idea to appear.