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"Venir" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to come", and "provenir" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to come from". Learn more about the difference between "venir" and "provenir" below.
venir(
beh
-
neer
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to come
El tren viene de Andalucía.The train comes from Andalusia.
b. to arrive
Ella vino en el vuelo de las 9pm.She arrived on the 9pm flight.
a. to come back
Vine a la casa para almorzar.I came back home for lunch.
b. to be back
El perro vendrá cuando tenga hambre.The dog will be back when he's hungry.
a. to be from
Gabriel viene de México.Gabriel is from Mexico.
a. to be
Los subtítulos de la película vienen en inglés.The subtitles for the movie are in English.
b. to come
Esta comida viene ya hecha.This food comes pre-made.
a. to come
¡Ya mismo viene la Navidad!Christmas is coming soon!
b. to come up
Tu cumpleaños viene ya mismo.Your birthday is coming up soon.
a. to get
Me viene sueño en el trabajo después de almorzar.I get drowsy at work after having lunch.
A nosotros nos vino una gripe terrible.We got a terrible flu.
a. to come
Lo mejor está por venir.The best is yet to come.
Ahora viene la escena que me gusta.The scene I like is coming up.
b. next (followed by a timeframe)
La semana que viene estaré trabajando desde casa.I'll be working from home next week.
El año que viene visitaremos Japón.Next year we're traveling to Japan.
a. to look
¿Me viene bien este gorro?Does this hat look good on me?
b. to suit
Ese color no te viene muy bien.That color doesn't really suit you.
a. to be
Creo que este vestido me viene muy grande.I think this dress is too big on me.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Unas largas vacaciones ahora me vendrían bien.A long vacation now would do me nicely.
Estas botas me vendrán bien cuando haya mucha nieve.These boots will come in handy when it's very snowy.
a. to be
Este fin de semana me viene un poco mal.This weekend isn't too good for me.
b. to work for
¿Te viene bien reunirnos mañana a las 4 pm?Does meeting at 4 pm tomorrow work for you?
c. to suit
¿Te viene bien encontrarnos en el restaurante?Does meeting at the restaurant suit you?
a. to mean
¿A qué vienes con decir eso?What do you mean by that?
a. to pick up
Avísale a Sofía que sus amigas han venido por ella.Tell Sofia her friends have come to pick her up.
b.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
¿Vino el mensajero a por el contrato?Has the messenger been to pick up the contract?
Venimos a por el perro.We're here to collect the dog.
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
auxiliary verb
a. to come in
Ellos vinieron cantando.They came in singing.
a. to come
Ella vino cansada del trabajo.She came back from work tired.
venirse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
a. to come
Se vino una tormenta mientras nadábamos en la playa.A storm came upon us when we were swimming at the beach.
El perro se vino sin ser llamado.The dog came without being called.
a. to come back
Se vino solo de la fiesta.He came back from the party alone.
18.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(sexual)
a. to come
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
Se vino en tan solo unos minutos.She came in just a few minutes.
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provenir(
proh
-
beh
-
neer
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to come from
El término jaque mate proviene del persa y significa "el rey está controlado".The term checkmate comes from Persian and means "the king is checked."
¿De dónde proviene esta costumbre y en qué siglo se instauró en este país?Where does this custom come from and in what century was it established in this country?
b. to stem from
Los médicos creen que esta enfermedad proviene de carencias vitamínicas en la alimentación.Doctors believe that this disease stems from vitamin deficiencies in the diet.
c.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
El error provino de una falta de información.The mistake was the result of a lack of information.
¿De quién provino la iniciativa de llevar a cabo el proyecto?Whose was the initiative to carry out the project?
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