arriver

The French verb "arriver" means "to arrive" or "to happen" depending on the context.

Meanings:

1. To arrive / come to a place:
   Used to indicate reaching a destination.
   Example: Il est arrivé à Paris. (He arrived in Paris.)

2. To happen / occur:
   Used to talk about events or situations that take place.
   Example: Qu'est-ce qui est arrivé ? (What happened?)

Synonyms and nuances:

• Venir: Also means "to come" but focuses on the action of moving toward the speaker or a point of reference.
  Difference: "Venir" is about moving towards a place, while "arriver" is about the arrival or reaching of the destination.
  Example: Je viens chez toi à 18h. (I’m coming to your place at 6 p.m.) vs. Je suis arrivé chez toi à 18h. (I arrived at your place at 6 p.m.)

• Se produire / se passer: These verbs specifically mean "to happen" or "to take place," often used for events.
  Example: Un accident s'est produit. (An accident happened.)
  Using "arriver" in this case is more informal.

Summary:

• Arriver = Arrive (motion completed) or Happen (events)
• Formal: Use venir (come), se produire/se passer (happen)
• Informal or conversational: "arriver" can mean both arrive and happen