French edit

Etymology edit

From sur- +‎ venir.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /syʁ.və.niʁ/
  • (file)

Verb edit

survenir

  1. to occur
  2. to happen unexpectedly
  3. (of a person) to appear, arrive (unexpectedly)
    • Un loup survient à jeun, qui cherchait aventure
      A wolf on an empty stomach appeared, looking for adventure
      (Jean de la Fontaine)

Conjugation edit

This is a verb in a group of -ir verbs. All verbs ending in -venir, such as convenir and devenir, are conjugated this way. Such verbs are the only verbs whose the past historic and subjunctive imperfect endings do not start in one of these thematic vowels (-a-, -i-, -u-).

Synonyms edit

Further reading edit