This short guide explains when to use paraître and apparaître with quick examples. Each section gives a clear definition and shows the difference in everyday context.
Paraître
Use paraître when talking about how someone or something seems to others, often based on impression or judgment. It focuses on an apparent quality rather than a literal arrival.
Examples
Usage Notes
Paraître can be followed by an adjective, noun, or infinitive, and is commonly used in contexts where appearance is tied to opinion or expectation. It often appears in news, reviews, and everyday assessments.
Expressions
| French Expression | English Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Paraître en public | To appear in public | |
| Paraître dans un magazine | To be featured in a magazine | |
| Paraître sous un pseudonyme | To be published under a pseudonym | |
| Paraître digne | To seem dignified | |
| Faire paraître | To make something appear (often to publish) |
Apparaître
Use apparaître for something that literally appears or becomes visible, whether physically or in a more concrete sense like on a document or screen. It can also be used figuratively for an event or idea that emerges.
Examples
Usage Notes
Apparaître is often used for physical appearances, sudden manifestations, or when something emerges in time or space. It can be used in narratives, descriptions, and reports of events.
Expressions
| French Expression | English Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Apparaître soudainement | To appear suddenly | |
| Apparaître à l’écran | To appear on screen | |
| Faire apparaître | To make appear (magically or suddenly) | |
| Apparaître clairement | To appear clearly | |
| Apparaître de nulle part | To appear out of nowhere |
Key Differences
Remember: use paraître for seeming or seeming to be, which relates to perception, and apparaître for actual appearing or becoming visible. They are not interchangeable because they serve different functions—one evaluative, the other descriptive.
Summary
Remember: choose paraître to talk about how something seems and apparaître to signal that something has appeared or become visible. Practice with short sentences and pay attention to whether the context calls for impression versus literal appearance.
Differences
In short, use paraître for seeming or seeming to be, which relates to perception, and use apparaître for actual appearing or becoming noticeable. They are not interchangeable because one deals with impression and the other with visibility.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025