Inklingo
Dictionary

ocurren

oh-KOO-rehnoˈku.ren

“ocurren” means “they happen” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

they happenA2Verb

events taking place

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they occur to (someone)B1Verb

ideas or thoughts

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they happen, they occurAlso: they take place

VerbA2regular ir
A colorful firework exploding in a night sky, representing a sudden event taking place.
past Participleocurrido
infinitiveocurrir
gerundocurriendo

📝 In Action

A veces ocurren accidentes en esta calle.

A2

Sometimes accidents happen on this street.

Cosas extrañas ocurren por la noche.

A2

Strange things occur at night.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • errores que ocurren – errors that occur
  • cuando ocurren – when they happen

they occur to (someone), they come to mind

VerbB1regular ir
A bright yellow lightbulb appearing above a person's head, representing a new idea.
past Participleocurrido
infinitiveocurrirse
gerundocurriéndose

📝 In Action

Se me ocurren muchas ideas para el proyecto.

B1

Many ideas are coming to me for the project.

¿No se te ocurren otras soluciones?

B1

Can't you think of any other solutions?

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • venir a la mente (to come to mind)

Common Collocations

  • se le ocurren – he/she thinks of (plural things)

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

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

Imperfect Subjunctive

yoocurriera
túocurrieras
él/ella/ustedocurriera
nosotrosocurriéramos
vosotrosocurrierais
ellos/ellas/ustedesocurrieren

Indicative

Preterite

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

Imperfect

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

Present

yoocurro
túocurres
él/ella/ustedocurre
nosotrosocurrimos
vosotrosocurrís
ellos/ellas/ustedesocurren
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Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ocurren" in Spanish:

they happenthey occur

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ocurren

Question 1 of 2

How would you say 'Many ideas occur to me'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
ocurrir(to happen) — Verb
ocurrencia(witty remark / idea) — Noun
ocurrido(happened) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes
correnborren
📚 Etymology

From the Latin 'occurre', meaning 'to run towards' or 'to present itself'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: occurFrench: occurer

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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.