Paraître and apparaître both relate to the idea of coming into view or becoming noticeable, but they are used differently—paraître deals with appearances in perception or opinion (“to seem”), while apparaître refers to something or someone physically or suddenly becoming visible (“to appear”).
The verb paraître is about how something seems to others or to the speaker—it deals with impressions, appearances, or judgments. For example, Il paraît fatigué means “He seems tired.” Paraître is also used in contexts like appearing in print or in public.
On the other hand, apparaître describes the actual act of something or someone coming into sight or becoming visible, often suddenly or unexpectedly. For example, Un fantôme apparaît means “A ghost appears.” Apparaître is more literal and concrete—it’s about physical appearance, not just impression.
Usage of Paraître
- Expressing appearance or impression: Used when stating how someone or something seems to the speaker or others.
- Appearing in public or print: Can mean to be published or to appear publicly.
- Followed by adjectives, nouns, or infinitives: Common constructions include paraître + adj, paraître + nom, or paraître + infinitif.
Examples:
- Il paraît content. (He seems happy.)
- Ce livre paraît demain. (This book appears/comes out tomorrow.)
- Elle paraît avoir raison. (She seems to be right.)
Usage of Apparaître
- Describing physical appearance: Used when something or someone becomes visible or comes into sight.
- Sudden or unexpected appearing: Often implies an element of surprise.
- More formal or literary: Common in written French or descriptive contexts.
- Followed by prepositional phrases: Often followed by dans, sur (e.g., apparaître dans..., apparaître sur...).
Examples:
- Un arc-en-ciel apparaît dans le ciel. (A rainbow appears in the sky.)
- Elle est apparue soudainement. (She appeared suddenly.)
- Son nom apparaît sur la liste. (Her name appears on the list.)
Which prepositions commonly follow 'apparaître'?
- dans
- sur
'Apparaître' is often followed by the prepositions 'dans' (in) or 'sur' (on), as in "apparaître dans le ciel" or "apparaître sur la liste."
Summary of Differences
- Paraître = to seem / to appear (in a figurative or perceptual sense).
- Apparaître = to appear / to come into view (in a literal, physical, or sudden sense).
- Use paraître for impressions, opinions, or something being published.
- Use apparaître for actual visibility, sudden appearances, or things showing up.
When should you use 'apparaître' instead of 'paraître'?
Use apparaître to describe when someone or something literally appears or comes into view.
'Apparaître' is appropriate when describing actual visibility or sudden showing up, unlike 'paraître,' which deals with seeming.
Conclusion
- Use paraître when talking about how things seem or are perceived.
- Use apparaître when describing something or someone that actually appears or becomes visible.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
