sucede
/su-SEH-deh/
it happens
This image represents an event that simply 'happens' or 'occurs' (it happens).
sucede(Verb)
it happens
?general occurrence
it occurs
?slightly more formal
,it takes place
?for planned or specific events
📝 In Action
¿Qué sucede aquí?
A2What's happening here?
Algo extraño sucede en esa casa.
B1Something strange is happening in that house.
No te preocupes, eso sucede a menudo.
A2Don't worry, that happens often.
💡 Grammar Points
Just for 'It' or 'That'
'Sucede' is most often used to mean 'it happens.' In Spanish, you don't need to add a word for 'it' because the verb ending already includes that idea. So, 'Sucede a menudo' means 'It happens often.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
'Sucede' vs. 'Pasar'
Mistake: "Using 'sucede' in very casual situations where 'pasar' is more natural."
Correction: In a casual chat, you're more likely to hear '¿Qué pasa?' (What's up?). '¿Qué sucede?' is perfectly correct but sounds a little more neutral or serious. Think of 'pasar' as your everyday choice and 'suceder' for when you're describing an event or situation.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Great Storytelling Word
You can use 'sucede que...' to start explaining a situation, like saying 'It turns out that...' or 'As it happens...'. For example: 'Llegué tarde porque sucede que había mucho tráfico.' (I was late because it turns out there was a lot of traffic.)
Here, 'sucede' illustrates that spring 'follows' or 'comes after' winter in a sequence.
📝 In Action
La primavera sucede al invierno.
B2Spring follows winter.
En la historia, la paz sucede a la guerra.
C1In history, peace follows war.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'Sequence'
This meaning is all about order. Use it when talking about things that come one after another in a set series, like seasons, chapters in a book, or historical periods.
This image depicts the formal meaning of 'sucede', where one person 'succeeds' another in a position of power, like inheriting a throne.
📝 In Action
El príncipe sucede al rey en el trono.
C1The prince succeeds the king on the throne.
La vicepresidenta sucede al presidente si este renuncia.
C1The vice president succeeds the president if he resigns.
⭐ Usage Tips
Royal and Official Language
You'll almost exclusively see this meaning in historical texts, news about royalty, or official company documents. It's not used in everyday conversation.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sucede
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'sucede' to talk about a sequence of events?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between '¿Qué pasa?' and '¿Qué sucede?'
They both mean 'What's happening?', but '¿Qué pasa?' is much more common and casual, like 'What's up?'. '¿Qué sucede?' is a bit more neutral or even serious. If you walk into a room where people are arguing, '¿Qué sucede?' fits perfectly. For greeting a friend, '¿Qué pasa?' is better.
Can I say 'yo sucedo'?
It's grammatically possible, but very rare. 'Suceder' is almost always used in the third person ('sucede', 'sucedió', 'suceden') to talk about events that 'happen'. For things that happen to you, it's more natural to say 'Me pasó algo' (Something happened to me) instead of 'Algo me sucedió'.