What is the difference between aparecer and parecer

Question

Don't they both mean to appear?

Answer 1

Aparecer means to make an appearance or show up. He always shows up late and hungry. El siempre aparece tarde y hambriento. Parecer means more like to look like.

For example, He always shows up late, looking very foolish. Él aparece siempre tarde, parecer muy absurdo.

• Why is paracer infinitive here? - Fredbong Sep 16, 2009

Answer 2

aparecer=appear (become visible)

parecer=seem

I don't see parecer or to seem in the dictionary under aparecer so apparently they don't share the same context like they can in English.

Answer 3

aparecer--appear parecer--seem

Answer 4

As Quentin pointed out, the problem lies with English not Spanish. In Spanish two different meanings = two different verbs but, in English two different meanings; sometimes (in certain phrases) two different verbs other times the same verb (with two different meanings).