Encontrarse vs. reunirse vs. verse vs. quedar
The Spanish verbs encontrarse, reunirse, verse and quedar all relate to meeting or getting together with someone, yet each word has its unique connotations and usages.
Encontrarse
A2Encontrarse means to find or locate, as in meeting someone more by chance or unexpectedly, rather than a planned encounter.
Me encontré a María en el supermercado.
(I met Maria at the supermarket.)
Nos encontramos en la fiesta sin previo aviso.
(We met at the party without prior notice.)
Reunirse
B1Reunirse is used when referring to a gathering or assembly. It generally implies a planned meeting, often in a formal context such as a business meeting or family gathering.
Vamos a reunirnos con el equipo mañana.
(We are going to meet with the team tomorrow.)
La familia se reunió para celebrar el cumpleaños de la abuela.
(The family gathered to celebrate grandma's birthday.)
Verse
A2Verse derives from the verb ver meaning to see. Similar to English expressions like see you later, it is often used to express casual encounters amongst friends.
Podemos vernos después del trabajo para tomar algo.
(We can meet up after work for a drink.)
¿A qué hora nos vemos mañana?
(What time do we see each other tomorrow?)
Quedar
A2Quedar is mainly used in Spain and is used for arranging informal meetings such as friends planning to go out.
¿Quedamos en el cine a las ocho?
(Shall we meet at the cinema at eight?)
He quedado para cenar con Laura.
(I've arranged to have dinner with Laura.)
Summary
Encontrarse, reunirse, verse & quedar are all verbs with an underlying theme of meeting. However, while encontrarse implies an unplanned encounter, reunirse tends to be more formal and arranged, whereas verse reflects casual meetups between friends. Lastly, quedar is mostly used in Spain for planning less formal meetings.