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convenir
/kɔ̃vəniʁ/
to suit
Ce restaurant convient à toute la famille.
This restaurant suits the whole family.
neutral
to suit or be suitable for someone or something
Ce travail convient parfaitement à ses compétences.
This job suits his skills perfectly.
Ce délai convient à tout le monde.
This deadline suits everyone.
Often used with 'à' + indirect object (e.g., 'convenir à quelqu'un').
formal
to agree (on a decision or arrangement)
Les parties sont convenues d'un compromis.
The parties agreed on a compromise.
Used in legal or formal contexts. The past participle 'convenu' is common in expressions like 'comme convenu' (as agreed).
literary
to admit or acknowledge (literary/archaic)
Il convient que cette erreur est de sa faute.
He admits that this mistake is his fault.
Rare in modern speech; primarily found in classical literature.
Collocations
convenir à quelqu'unto suit someoneconvenir à quelque choseto suit somethingcomme convenuas agreedconvenir de quelque choseto agree on something
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Common Mistake: 'Convenir' vs. 'Convenir de'
'Convenir' alone means 'to suit,' while 'convenir de' means 'to agree on.' Do not use 'convenir' alone to express agreement in casual speech.
Gold Rule
Rule 1: Suitability
Use 'convenir' to say something suits someone or something (e.g., 'Ce temps convient à la randonnée' = 'This weather suits hiking').
Rule 2: Agreement
For agreement, use 'convenir de' in formal contexts (e.g., 'Nous sommes convenus d'un prix' = 'We agreed on a price').
Word Origin
From Old French 'convenir' (to agree), from Latin 'convenire' (to come together, agree), from 'com-' (together) + 'venire' (to come).
Usage Notes
In modern French, 'convenir' is most commonly used to express suitability ('to suit'). The sense of 'to agree' is formal or legal. Avoid using it in casual contexts for agreement; prefer 'être d'accord' instead.
Word Breakdown
con-
together
prefix-venir
to come
rootDictionnaire Français-Anglais