# Question regarding the difference between the verbs 'réussir' and 'se réussir'

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-difference-between-the-verbs-reussir-and-se-reussir/956626>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 25, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-difference-between-the-verbs-reussir-and-se-reussir/956626 "2021-12-25T14:06:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-difference-between-the-verbs-reussir-and-se-reussir/956626/1 "2021-12-25T14:06:12Z")

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I have searched extensively online but have not found any clear difference between the verbs “réussir” and 'se réussir". How do they differ in meaning ?

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**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-difference-between-the-verbs-reussir-and-se-reussir/956626/2 "2021-12-25T14:29:06Z")

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réussir: succeed, achieving one’s goal.  
se réussir: achieving self-fulfillement, liberating or activating your inner potential.

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**Author:** ![Octagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/2acd7d/32.png) [@Octagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octagon)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-difference-between-the-verbs-reussir-and-se-reussir/956626/3 "2021-12-25T14:45:36Z")

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Thank you Pardel-Lux.

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**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-difference-between-the-verbs-reussir-and-se-reussir/956626/4 "2021-12-25T14:47:42Z")

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Oh dear, and I wrote self-fulfillment like it was French… sorry for that.

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**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-difference-between-the-verbs-reussir-and-se-reussir/956626/5 "2021-12-25T14:59:52Z")

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Que c’est embarrassant!

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**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\
**Post date:** [December 25, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-regarding-the-difference-between-the-verbs-reussir-and-se-reussir/956626/6 "2021-12-25T15:07:16Z")

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Oui, it feels like being teleported to rural [Wisconsin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embarrass,_Wisconsin) where, as they say in German, one would not like to be seen hanging dead over a fence.