Rencontre vs. réunion
'Rencontre' and 'réunion' are both French nouns that can be used to describe different types of meetings, but they are used in distinct contexts and have unique connotations. Understanding the nuances between these words is important for appropriate usage in conversation and writing in French.
Rencontre
A casual or unplanned meeting, or a first time meeting between people; can also refer to a sports match or encounter between individuals or groups.
J'ai fait une rencontre inattendue en allant au marché.
(I had an unexpected encounter on the way to the market.)
Lors de notre première rencontre, nous avons tout de suite sympathisé.
(During our first meeting, we immediately hit it off.)
La rencontre sportive de ce soir est très attendue par les fans.
(Tonight's sports match is highly anticipated by the fans.)
Réunion
A planned gathering of people, usually for a specific purpose such as work, discussion, or organization; often conveys a formal or official tone.
Nous avons une réunion d'équipe chaque lundi matin pour organiser la semaine de travail.
(We have a team meeting every Monday morning to organize the workweek.)
L'assemblée générale annuelle est une réunion importante pour tous les actionnaires de l'entreprise.
(The annual general meeting is an important gathering for all the company's shareholders.)
Pouvez-vous confirmer votre présence à la réunion de projet prévue demain ?
(Can you confirm your attendance at the project meeting scheduled for tomorrow?)
Summary
While 'rencontre' tends to imply a more casual, chance, or initial meeting between people or groups and can also refer to encounters such as sports matches, 'réunion' describes a more structured and planned assembly with a specific agenda or objective, such as meetings within a professional, formal, or organizational context. Both words play important roles in describing social interactions but do so from differing perspectives of formality and intention.