venir
/beh-NEER/
to come
The most common meaning of *venir* is 'to come,' indicating movement toward the speaker or a shared reference point.
📝 In Action
¿Vienes a la fiesta esta noche?
A1Are you coming to the party tonight?
Mis padres vienen de visita el fin de semana.
A1My parents are coming to visit this weekend.
¡Ven aquí ahora mismo!
A2Come here right now!
💡 Grammar Points
The Golden Rule: Venir vs. Ir
'Venir' means movement towards the speaker ('Come here!'), while 'ir' means movement away from the speaker ('Go there!'). If someone is coming to you or to where you are, use 'venir'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'Venir' and 'Llegar'
Mistake: "Using 'venir' when you mean to arrive somewhere you are not currently located."
Correction: 'Venir' is about the journey towards. 'Llegar' is about the moment of arrival. 'El tren llega a las cinco' (The train arrives at five).
Forgetting the Irregular 'yo' Form
Mistake: "Yo vieno a la fiesta."
Correction: Use 'Yo vengo'. The 'yo' form in the present tense is special and adds a 'g', just like in 'tengo' (from tener) or 'pongo' (from poner).
⭐ Usage Tips
Saying Where You're From
Use 'venir de + [place]' to say where you're coming from right now. For example, 'Vengo de la oficina' means 'I'm coming from the office'.
*Venir* can also mean that an item 'comes with' or is 'included' in a package, such as a manual in a box.
venir(Verb)
📝 In Action
El manual de instrucciones viene en la caja.
A2The instruction manual comes in the box.
El autobús viene cada diez minutos.
B1The bus comes every ten minutes.
Esa noticia vino en el periódico de ayer.
B1That news appeared in yesterday's newspaper.
⭐ Usage Tips
Not Just for People
You can use 'venir' for things that 'travel' to a destination, like a package in the mail, a feature in a new phone, or an article in a magazine.
When talking about clothing, *venir* can describe how an item 'fits' (or doesn't fit), often used impersonally.
venir(Verb)
📝 In Action
Esta falda me viene un poco grande.
B1This skirt fits me a little big.
Ahora no me viene bien hablar, ¿te llamo luego?
B1It doesn't suit me to talk right now, can I call you later?
Tu ayuda me vendría de maravilla.
B2Your help would be wonderful for me.
💡 Grammar Points
Works Like 'Gustar'
When 'venir' means 'to fit' or 'to suit', it often works like 'gustar'. The thing that fits is in charge of the verb. So you say 'La camisa me viene bien' (The shirt fits me well), not 'Yo vengo bien la camisa'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: venir
Question 1 of 3
If you are at home and your friend is on their way to your house, what would you say?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the real difference between 'venir' and 'llegar'?
'Venir' focuses on the action of moving *towards* a place ('He is coming'). 'Llegar' focuses on the final moment of *arrival* at that place ('He has arrived'). You can come without having arrived yet!
Is 'ven' the only command form for 'come'?
'Ven' is the informal 'tú' command, used with friends, family, and children. For more formal situations (using 'usted'), you say 'venga'. For a group, you'd say 'vengan' (ustedes) or 'venid' (vosotros in Spain).
I see 'bienvenido' a lot. Is it related?
Yes, absolutely! 'Bienvenido' literally means 'well come'. It's formed from 'bien' (well) and 'venido' (the past participle of 'venir'). So you're literally wishing someone a good arrival.