Inklingo

How to Say "to meet" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to meet” is “reunirse” — use 'reunirse' when you are arranging to get together with one or more people at a specific time and place.

reunirse🔊A2

Use 'reunirse' when you are arranging to get together with one or more people at a specific time and place.

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verse🔊A2

Use 'verse' informally to arrange a meeting with someone, implying you will see each other.

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encontrarse🔊B1

Use 'encontrarse' when two or more people mutually meet or run into each other, often at a planned or unplanned location.

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conocer🔊A2

Use 'conocer' specifically for meeting someone for the very first time.

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recoger🔊A2

Use 'recoger' when the meaning is to pick someone up or collect them from a specific place.

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concurrir🔊B2

Use 'concurrir' when referring to people or things physically coming together or gathering in one place, often for an event.

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cubrir🔊B2

Use 'cubrir' when 'to meet' means to cover expenses, costs, or fulfill a financial obligation.

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reunir🔊C1

Use 'reunir' when 'to meet' refers to fulfilling or satisfying specific requirements, conditions, or qualifications.

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English → Spanish

reunirse

rreh-oo-NEER-sehreuˈniɾse

verbA2
Use 'reunirse' when you are arranging to get together with one or more people at a specific time and place.
A high quality storybook illustration showing two stylized figures, one in a blue shirt and one in a red shirt, standing face-to-face and shaking hands firmly.

Examples

Nos reuniremos en el café a las tres.

We will meet at the cafe at three o'clock.

Siempre se reúnen para celebrar el Año Nuevo.

They always gather to celebrate New Year's.

¿Cuándo te vas a reunir con el jefe?

When are you going to meet with the boss?

The Reflexive Action

The '-se' at the end means the action reflects back onto the subject. If you use the verb 'reunir' (without -se), it means 'to gather something else,' but 'reunirse' means 'to gather yourselves together.'

The Special Accent

In the present tense (like 'yo me reúno'), the accent over the 'u' is essential. It forces the 'u' and 'i' to be pronounced separately (re-Ú-no), not as a quick glide.

Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun

Mistake: “Yo reúno con mi familia.”

Correction: Yo ME reúno con mi familia. (You must include 'me, te, se, nos, os, se' before the verb, depending on who is meeting.)

verse

vehr-sehˈbeɾse

verbA2informal
Use 'verse' informally to arrange a meeting with someone, implying you will see each other.
Two people standing on opposite sides of a path, smiling and waving directly at each other.

Examples

Nos vemos el sábado en el café.

We'll see each other/We are meeting on Saturday at the cafe.

¡Adiós! ¡Nos vemos!

Goodbye! See you!

Ellos se vieron después de muchos años.

They saw each other after many years.

Reciprocal Action

This meaning uses the plural pronouns ('nos' or 'se') because the action goes back and forth between two or more people.

encontrarse

en-kohn-TRAR-sehenkonˈtɾaɾse

verbB1
Use 'encontrarse' when two or more people mutually meet or run into each other, often at a planned or unplanned location.
An illustration showing two friendly people standing face-to-face, smiling, and shaking hands warmly in a park setting, signifying a reciprocal meeting.

Examples

Nos encontramos en la cafetería a las 3:00 p.m.

We are meeting (each other) at the cafeteria at 3:00 p.m.

Ayer se encontraron con su viejo profesor en el supermercado.

Yesterday they ran into their old professor at the supermarket.

Espero encontrarme contigo pronto.

I hope to meet up with you soon.

Reciprocal Action

When used in the plural (nosotros, ellos), 'encontrarse' usually means 'to meet each other'. The reciprocal pronoun (nos, se) shows that the action goes both ways.

Using 'encontrar' instead of 'encontrarse'

Mistake: “Vamos a encontrar en el cine. (We are going to find in the cinema.)”

Correction: Vamos a encontrarnos en el cine. (We are going to meet in the cinema.) 'Encontrar' means 'to find a thing', while 'encontrarse' means 'to meet a person' or 'to be located'.

conocer

koh-noh-SEHRkono'seɾ

verbA2
Use 'conocer' specifically for meeting someone for the very first time.
Two cartoon people, one man and one woman, standing in a bright, friendly setting, shaking hands warmly to signify their first meeting.

Examples

Mucho gusto en conocerte.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Conocí a mi mejor amigo en la escuela.

I met my best friend at school.

Nos conocimos en una fiesta hace dos años.

We met at a party two years ago.

The 'Meeting' Tense

This 'to meet' meaning is most often used in a specific past tense (the preterite). 'Conocí' means 'I met', while 'Conocía' means 'I knew'.

Meeting vs. Meeting Up

Mistake: “Conocí a mis amigos para cenar.”

Correction: For 'meeting up' with people you already know, use verbs like 'reunirse' or 'encontrarse con'. For example, 'Me reuní con mis amigos para cenar.' 'Conocer' is for the very first time.

recoger

reh-koh-HERreˈko.xeɾ

verbA2
Use 'recoger' when the meaning is to pick someone up or collect them from a specific place.
A bright yellow school bus stopped at a street corner with a friendly driver waving as a student steps onto the bus.

Examples

¿Puedes recogerme en el aeropuerto mañana?

Can you pick me up at the airport tomorrow?

Mi padre siempre me recoge de la escuela.

My father always picks me up from school.

Using the Personal 'A'

Since you are picking up a person (a specific object), you must use the 'a' right after 'recoger': 'Recojo a mi hermana.'

concurrir

kon-koo-reerkonkuˈrir

verbB2formal
Use 'concurrir' when referring to people or things physically coming together or gathering in one place, often for an event.
A group of happy people gathering together at a garden party.

Examples

Mucha gente concurrió a la plaza para ver el concierto.

Many people gathered at the plaza to see the concert.

Es obligatorio concurrir a la oficina para firmar el contrato.

It is mandatory to attend the office to sign the contract.

Miles de fieles concurren cada año al santuario.

Thousands of the faithful gather every year at the sanctuary.

Using 'a' with Place

When you use this word to mean 'to go to' or 'to attend,' you almost always need to put the little word 'a' before the destination.

Formal Attendance

While 'asistir' is the common way to say 'attend,' this word implies a more formal or massive gathering of people.

Don't use it for 'Agreeing'

Mistake: “Yo concurro con tu opinión.”

Correction: Estoy de acuerdo con tu opinión. (While 'concurrir' can technically mean to coincide, it's rarely used to simply mean 'I agree' in daily Spanish).

cubrir

koo-BREERkuˈβriɾ

verbB2
Use 'cubrir' when 'to meet' means to cover expenses, costs, or fulfill a financial obligation.
A hand placing several colorful coins next to a stack of colorful bills on a table, symbolizing payment.

Examples

La beca cubre todos los gastos de matrícula.

The scholarship covers all tuition expenses.

Necesitamos un empleado nuevo para cubrir el puesto de gerente.

We need a new employee to fill the manager position.

Ella tuvo que cubrir el turno de su compañero enfermo.

She had to cover her sick colleague's shift.

reunir

rreh-oo-NEERre.uˈniɾ

verbC1formal
Use 'reunir' when 'to meet' refers to fulfilling or satisfying specific requirements, conditions, or qualifications.
A bright red, interlocking puzzle piece being placed perfectly and seamlessly into the corresponding empty space on a larger blue puzzle, symbolizing meeting a requirement.

Examples

El candidato no reúne los requisitos mínimos para el puesto.

The candidate does not meet the minimum requirements for the position.

Esta obra reúne belleza y complejidad técnica.

This work possesses beauty and technical complexity.

Formal Usage

In this formal sense, 'reunir' acts as a synonym for 'cumplir' (to fulfill) or 'poseer' (to possess) and is often used in negative statements about qualifications.

Meeting People vs. Fulfilling Requirements

The most common confusion is between verbs like 'reunirse' (to arrange a meeting) and 'reunir' (to fulfill requirements). Remember, 'reunirse' is reflexive and about people getting together, while 'reunir' (often with 'requisitos') is about satisfying conditions.

Related Translations

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