rencontrer
/ʁɑ̃.kɔ̃.tʁe/
To meet in French is rencontrer.
rencontrer is used when you come across someone, are introduced to someone for the first time or meet someone by appointment.
Which one should you use?
Use rencontrer for meeting someone for the first time or meeting by appointment. For meeting someone you already know, you should use voir or retrouver instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle of rencontrer is rencontré, which is used with the auxiliary avoir to form the passé composé.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʁɑ̃.kɔ̃.tʁe/. The word has 3 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use rencontrer to mean 'to meet up with a friend'. Instead, use retrouver for meeting up with someone you already know.
Did you know?
- The French word rencontre can refer to a sporting match or a game, such as a football match, rather than just a social meeting between people.
- The word rencontrer comes from the Late Latin word *incontrare, which literally meant 'to face' or 'to stand against'.
- The prefix 're-' in rencontrer does not mean 'again' in this specific case, even though 're-' usually signifies repetition in French.
Examples in context
- J'ai eu le plaisir de faire la connaissance de Monsieur Dupont lors de la réunion.I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Dupont during the meeting.
- J'ai rencontré mon nouveau collègue pour la première fois aujourd'hui.I met my new colleague for the first time today.
- Hier soir, j'ai fait la rencontre de mon voisin qui m'a invité à une fête.Last night, I met my neighbor who invited me to a party.
- J'ai croisé la route de Jean ce matin en allant au travail.I crossed paths with Jean this morning on my way to work.
- Je veux rencontrer de nouveaux amis.I want to meet new friends.
- Où vas-tu rencontrer ton client ?Where are you going to meet your client?
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a networking event.
- EmmaTu vas rencontrer beaucoup de gens ce soir ?Are you going to meet many people tonight?
- LucasOui, j'espère rencontrer des partenaires intéressants.Yes, I hope to meet some interesting partners.
- EmmaC'est une bonne opportunité pour toi, Lucas.It's a good opportunity for you, Lucas.
- LucasMerci Emma, je suis un peu nerveux.Thanks Emma, I am a bit nervous.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry rencontrer, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries rencontrer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
