rencontrer
/ʁɑ̃.kɔ̃.tʁe/
Definition
To meet someone, either by chance or by arrangement.
Example
J'ai rencontré mon meilleur ami à l'école.
Show translation
I met my best friend at school.
Etymology
From Old French *encontrer*, from Late Latin *incontrare*, built on *in-* ("toward") + *contra* ("against, face to face"). The prefix shifted from *en-* to *re-* in modern French, adding a nuance of "again" or "back," though the word lost any strict sense of repetition.
Cultural note
*Rencontrer* covers both a chance encounter ("I bumped into her") and a planned meeting, where English would often distinguish "meet" from "run into." The noun *une rencontre* is also used in sports for a match or fixture (e.g., *la rencontre entre la France et l'Espagne*), so context matters.