ocurriendo
“ocurriendo” means “happening” in Spanish (currently taking place).
happening, occurring
Also: taking place
📝 In Action
¿Qué está ocurriendo aquí? Hay mucho ruido.
A2What is happening here? There is a lot of noise.
La ceremonia está ocurriendo en este momento.
B1The ceremony is occurring at this moment.
No te preocupes, no está ocurriendo nada grave.
B1Don't worry, nothing serious is happening.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: ocurriendo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'ocurriendo'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *occurrere*, which literally meant 'to run toward' or 'to meet.' In Spanish, this meaning shifted to 'to happen' or 'to come to mind,' reflecting the idea of something suddenly appearing or meeting you in the present moment.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'está ocurriendo' and 'está pasando'?
Both mean 'it is happening.' 'Pasando' (from *pasar*) is much more common and casual for everyday events. 'Ocurriendo' (from *ocurrir*) is often used in slightly more formal contexts or when referring to important or unusual events.
Can I use 'ocurriendo' without 'estar'?
Yes, but rarely. You might see it used as an adjective (e.g., 'eventos ocurriendo'), but 99% of the time, you will use it with a form of 'estar' to create the continuous tense.