venir

Senses

1. 1.

   to come

   to move toward or arrive at a place

2. 2.

   to come (happen, occur)

   to happen or take place, often with 'ça vient' or similar constructions

3. 3.

   to come from

   to originate or result from a source

4. 4.

   to have just (venir de + infinitive)

   auxiliary construction expressing the immediate past: 'just did'

Examples

• "Je viens de Paris."

  I come from Paris.

• "Il vient d'arriver à la gare."

  He has just arrived at the station.

• "Quand viens-tu nous rendre visite ?"

  When are you coming to visit us?

Usage

Venir is highly frequent and irregular in conjugation (je viens, tu viens, il/elle vient, nous venons, vous venez, ils/elles viennent). The passé composé uses être: je suis venu(e). The construction venir de + infinitive is essential for expressing "have just": viens de manger = just ate. In conversation, venir can mean "to have just happened": ça vient de me venir à l'esprit = it just occurred to me.