to bump into, to come across

Sometimes you meet a friend, an acquaintance or a coworker by pure chance, rather than because you had arranged to meet them in advance. There are a few different ways to translate the English phrases “to bump into” or “to come across” in French.

rencontrer

The French verb “rencontrer” mainly means “to meet” or “to meet with.” However, it can also mean “to come across.”

  • J’ai rencontré mon ami hier (I came across my friend yesterday)
  • On ne rencontre pas souvent des gens aussi généreux (you don’t often come across/meet such generous people).

croiser

The French verb “croiser” usually means “to cross,” as in to cross one’s legs or to fold one’s arms, or to cross a street. But it can also mean “to pass somebody or something (coming the other way),” or “to meet.”

  • J’ai croisé mon ami hier (I came across my friend yesterday)
  • On a croisé un car (we passed a bus [coming the other way])
  • J’ai croisé la DRH dans le couloir et elle avait l’air malade (In the corridor, I met the head of HR coming the other way and she looked unwell)
  • J’ai croisé ma voisine à la boulangerie (I bumped into/ran into my neighbour at the bakery)

tomber sur

The French verb “tomber” means “to fall,” as well as “to tumble,” “to sag,” or “to droop.” When used with “sur” (on), it can also mean “to come across” or “to run into” or “to bump into.”

  • Je suis tombé sur mon ami hier (I came across my friend yesterday)
  • Je suis tombé par hasard sur ce que je cherchais (I found what I was looking for by chance)
  • Si tu prends cette rue, tu tomberas sur la place (if you follow that street, you’ll come to the square)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • monter dans vs monter à

    French learners often wonder when to use monter dans and when to use monter à. Both can be translated as “to get in” or “to get on,” but their use depends on the type of transport or the situation. Monter dansThe expression monter dans is used when someone goes inside a closed or enclosed vehicle….

  • avoiding il faut que

    Many French speakers rely heavily on “il faut que” (which requires the subjunctive) to express necessity. Learn four other ways to express necessity, obligation, and needs in French, without struggling with the subjunctive mood. 1. The Simplest Alternative: “Il faut + Infinitive” Best for: General advice or impersonal obligations Instead of:“Il faut que tu étudies.”…

  • il faut que

    The French phrase “il faut que” means “it’s necessary that.” It is used to express obligation and necessity. Unlike the phrase “il faut” (which is used without “que” and with a verb in the infinitive), “il faut que” specifies exactly who should do something. “Il faut que” is always accompanied by a second verb in…

  • Grammar: Irregular verbs

    Here are the 19 most important irregular verbs to know in French. They are important because they are very frequently used. They are also important to know because many exist in compound form (eg, venir is used in the compound forms revenir, devenir, prévenir, provenir, convenir, survenir and advenir, among others). Since these 19 verbs…

  • Verb: Tenir

    “Tenir”: A Closer Look at the Meaning, Conjugation, Past Participle, Usage, and Etymology Meaning At its core, “tenir” means “to hold” in English. However, its significance expands far beyond simple physical grip. It encompasses a wide array of related concepts, such as keeping, maintaining, possessing, or even enduring. Conjugation “Tenir” follows the irregular conjugation pattern…

  • être

    The French verb “être” is the equivalent of the English verb “to be.” It’s the most frequently used verb in the whole French language. It’s an irregular verb, which means that is doesn’t follow regular conjugation patterns. This is the present tense of être: The verb être is used to express identity, nationality, and describing…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *