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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.).
2. (to return)
5. (to occur)
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. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word 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.
b. to work for
¿Te viene bien reunirnos mañana a las 4 pm?Does meeting at 4 pm tomorrow work for you?
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. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word 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.).
venirse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
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.
17. (to return)
18. (colloquial) (sexual)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to come (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Se vino en tan solo unos minutos.She came in just a few minutes.
provenir(
proh
-
beh
-
neer
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
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. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word 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?