rencontrer

Rencontrer is a French verb meaning to meet or to encounter. It is typically transitive: rencontrer quelqu’un (to meet someone), rencontrer un ami, or rencontrer un problème (to encounter a problem). It can also be used in a pronominal form: se rencontrer, to meet each other, often describing two or more people who meet or cross paths.

Conjugation and usage

Rencontrer is a regular -er verb in form, though it is commonly used with a variety of transitive meanings. Present tense: je rencontre, tu rencontres, il rencontre, nous rencontrons, vous rencontrez, ils rencontrent. Passé composé: j’ai rencontré. Imparfait: je rencontrais. Futur simple: je rencontrerai. Conditionnel présent: je rencontrerais. Subjonctif présent: que je rencontre. Impératif: rencontre, rencontrons, rencontrez.

Noun form and related terms

The noun la rencontre denotes the act of meeting or an encounter, and can refer to a planned meeting, a chance encounter, or a romantic meeting. Related phrases include une rencontre fortuite (a fortuitous meeting) and faire la connaissance de quelqu’un (to get to know someone).

Usage notes

Rencontrer can describe social meetings, professional encounters, or the experience of running into obstacles or issues (rencontrer des difficultés, rencontrer un problème). In the sense of “to come across,” it often emphasizes an element of chance or discovery. Se rencontrer is used when two or more people meet each other, as in deux amis qui se sont rencontrés à la gare.

Pronunciation

Rencontrer is pronounced with a nasal initial sound: [ʁɑ̃kɔ̃tʁe]. The stress falls on the final syllable in most common pronunciation.