vienen
/byEH-nen/
they come
The most common meaning of vienen is 'they come' or 'they are coming,' indicating movement towards the speaker.
vienen(Verb)
they come
?Movement towards the speaker
,they are coming
?Action happening now
,you come / you are coming
?Plural 'you' (ustedes form)
📝 In Action
¿Tus amigos vienen a la fiesta esta noche?
A1Are your friends coming to the party tonight?
Los autobuses vienen cada diez minutos, así que no te preocupes.
A2The buses come every ten minutes, so don't worry.
Ustedes vienen con nosotros, ¿verdad?
A1You all are coming with us, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Come Here vs. Go There
Use 'venir' (and forms like 'vienen') for movement towards you or your current location. Use 'ir' (like 'van') for movement away from you or to somewhere else. Think: 'They come here' (vienen) vs. 'They go there' (van).
Two Meanings in One
In Spanish, 'vienen' can mean both 'they come' (a regular action) and 'they are coming' (happening right now). You don't always need a special '-ing' form like in English.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'vienen' and 'van'
Mistake: "If your friends are going to the cinema and you are at home, you might say: *'Mis amigos vienen al cine.'*"
Correction: Say: 'Mis amigos van al cine.' The movement is away from you, so you need 'van' (from the verb 'ir', to go), not 'vienen'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Who is 'vienen' for?
'Vienen' is used for two groups: 'ellos/ellas' (they) and 'ustedes' (you all). In Latin America, 'ustedes' is used for any group of 'you', friends or formal. In Spain, it's typically for formal situations.
When used with 'de' (vienen de), vienen means 'they come from' or 'they are from,' referring to origin or source.
vienen(Verb)
they come from
?Origin or source
,they are from
?Nationality or place of origin
📝 In Action
Mis abuelos vienen de Italia.
A2My grandparents come from (are from) Italy.
Estos granos de café vienen de Colombia.
B1These coffee beans come from Colombia.
Las ideas para este proyecto vienen de muchas fuentes diferentes.
B2The ideas for this project come from many different sources.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'venir de'
This is a great alternative to 'ser de' when you want to talk about where someone or something originates. 'Vienen de México' is very similar to 'Son de México'.
In commercial contexts, vienen can describe the characteristics of a product, such as what is included or the available colors ('they come' in a certain way).
vienen(Verb)
they come (in a certain way)
?Describing characteristics of a product
,they fit / they suit
?Often with 'bien' or 'mal'
📝 In Action
Las pilas no vienen incluidas con el juguete.
A2The batteries don't come included with the toy.
Estos pantalones vienen en tres colores: azul, negro y gris.
B1These pants come in three colors: blue, black, and gray.
A mis hijos les vienen bien unas vacaciones.
B2A vacation would do my children good. (Literally: To my children, a vacation comes well.)
💡 Grammar Points
The 'le/les' structure
Notice how we say 'les vienen bien' to mean 'it's good for them'. This is like the verb 'gustar'. The little word 'les' tells you who is affected by the action.
⭐ Usage Tips
Shopping Spanish
This use of 'vienen' is super helpful when shopping. You can ask '¿Vienen en otros colores?' (Do they come in other colors?) or say 'No me vienen bien' (They don't fit me well).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vienen
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'vienen' to talk about origin?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'vienen' and 'van'?
It's all about perspective! Use 'vienen' (from 'venir') when people or things are moving towards the speaker's location. Use 'van' (from 'ir') when they are moving away from the speaker or to a different location. Think: 'Come here' vs. 'Go there'.
Is 'vienen' formal or informal?
It can be both! 'Vienen' is the form for 'ellos/ellas' (they), which is neutral. It's also for 'ustedes' (you all). In Latin America, 'ustedes' is the standard way to say 'you all' to anyone. In Spain, 'ustedes' is used in more formal settings, while 'vosotros venís' is used for friends.
Can I use 'vienen' for things, not just people?
Absolutely! It's very common. You can say 'Los trenes vienen' (The trains are coming), 'Las ideas vienen' (The ideas come), or 'Los zapatos vienen en mi talla' (The shoes come in my size).