Sembler or paraître: seems clear, looks tired, comes out on Friday

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Both sembler and paraître express impressions. Compare adjective patterns, il me semble que, il paraît que and paraître for publication.

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In short

Sembler and paraître both mean “seem” before an adjective: Cette idée semble claire / Cette idée paraît claire. Paraître also means “come out” or “be published”: Le livre paraît vendredi. That publication meaning belongs to paraître.

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An editor and journalist talking beside covered newspaper bundles on a delivery trolley.
Le journal paraît vendredi uses the publication sense. Illustration: Atelier

What is the difference between sembler and paraître?

semblerto seem

Focus: An impression or assessment.

subject + sembler + adjective

Cette solution me semble utile.
This solution seems useful to me.

Tu sembles fatigué.
You seem tired.

paraîtreto seem / look

Focus: An impression, including appearance.

subject + paraître + adjective

Cette solution me paraît utile.
This solution seems useful to me.

Tu parais fatigué.
You look tired.

Both verbs work in these pairs. Paraître can describe an assessment of an idea as well as someone’s appearance. With me or lui, you name the person judging: Cette réponse lui paraît claire means “This answer seems clear to him or her.”

What does paraître mean for a newspaper?

Avant la publication
  1. Éditeur

    Ton article me semble clair. Il reste une date à vérifier.

    Your article seems clear to me. There is still a date to check.

  2. Journaliste

    Il paraît que la salle ouvre samedi. Je vais appeler la mairie.

    Apparently the hall opens on Saturday. I’ll call the town hall.

  3. Éditeur

    Très bien. Le journal paraît vendredi.

    Very good. The newspaper comes out on Friday.

  4. Journaliste

    Alors, je te confirme la date cet après-midi.

    Then I’ll confirm the date with you this afternoon.

Three useful complete patterns
FrenchEnglishFocus
Il me semble que la date est correcte.I think the date is correct.My assessment.
Il paraît que la salle ouvre samedi.Apparently the hall opens on Saturday.Information heard or reported.
Le journal paraît vendredi.The newspaper comes out on Friday.Publication.

In il paraît que, English “apparently” is often a useful translation. In le journal paraît, the subject is a publication and the verb tells you when it comes out. Add clair, intéressant or another adjective, and you return to an assessment: Ce journal paraît intéressant.

Present forms used on this page
Subjectsemblerparaître
jesembleparais
tusemblesparais
il / elle / onsembleparaît
noussemblonsparaissons
voussemblezparaissez
ils / ellessemblentparaissent
Question 1No account needed
Which verb means “comes out” here?Le journal du quartier ___ chaque vendredi.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

paraît. Paraître gives the publication date of a newspaper. Sembler expresses an impression.

Question 2No account needed
Which pair can both mean “This explanation seems clear to me”?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Cette explication me semble claire. / Cette explication me paraît claire.. Both verbs take an adjective and can describe the same assessment.

Question 3No account needed
What does the speaker mean?Il paraît que la salle ouvre demain.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The speaker has heard that the hall opens tomorrow.. Il paraît que introduces reported information here. Demain gives the opening day.

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