The verb incontrare (to meet) can be used with the auxiliary avere: ho incontrato and with the auxiliary essere in its reflexive form: ci siamo incontrati.
One of the most recurring questions I get in my private classes is whether there’s any difference between incontrare and incontrarsi.
And the answer is yes, although in some cases they can be used interchangeably.
Incontrare
Incontrare (non-reflexive verb): It means “to meet” someone. You use it when one person meets someone else (a direct object).
Example:
- Ho incontrato Maria al supermercato. (I met Maria at the supermarket.)
- Abbiamo incontrato Luigi mentre camminavamo al parco. (We met Luigi while walking in the park.)
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Incontrarsi
Incontrarsi (reflexive verb): It means “to meet each other,” so it’s only conjugated with noi, voi, or loro, and it’s NOT followed by a direct object. (This is the most important difference from incontrare.)
Example:
- Io e Maria ci incontriamo spesso al bar. (Maria and I often meet at the café.)
- Io e Maria ci siamo incontrate in centro per fare shopping. (Maria and I met in the center to go shopping.
In short:
Incontrare (to meet someone) means to meet someone in either a planned or unplanned way. It involves the use of a direct object (so you should mention who you’re meeting).
Example: Serena ha incontrato Sara. (Serena met Sara.)
Incontrarsi (to meet each other) means to meet someone, typically in a planned way, though it can sometimes be unplanned. It is used only with noi, voi, or loro.
Example: Si sono incontrate al bar. (They met each other at the café.)
