arriver
to arrive
to come
to reach (a place)
Je vais arriver en retard à la gare.
I'm going to arrive late at the station.
to happen
to occur
Il arrive souvent des imprévus pendant les voyages.
Unexpected things often happen during trips.
to manage to
to succeed in (doing something)
Je n'arrive pas à ouvrir cette bouteille.
I can't manage to open this bottle.
Notes
GENERAL INFO
Arriver is a verb with multiple meanings: "to arrive," "to happen," or "to succeed/manage to do something."
USAGE
It's commonly used for physical arrival: "Je suis arrivé à la gare." (I arrived at the station.)
It can also mean "to happen": "Qu'est-ce qui est arrivé ?" (What happened?).
With "à" + infinitive, it means "to manage/succeed": "J'arrive à comprendre." (I manage to understand.)
TRAPS
When meaning "to arrive" or "to happen," arriver always uses *être* as its auxiliary verb in compound tenses (e.g., *Je suis arrivé*, *C'est arrivé*). Do not use *avoir*.
CONJUGATION - 1st Group
J'arrive
Tu arrives
Il/elle/on arrive
Nous arrivons
Vous arrivez
Ils/elles arrivent
