"Rise" means to go up or get up physically; "arise" means to come up or emerge (a problem, situation, question).
To go up, ascend, get up. Movement upward or an increase. Also: the sun rises.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
El sol sale por el este y se pone por el oeste.
Prices have risen sharply over the last six months.
Los precios han subido drasticamente en los ultimos seis meses.
She rose early that morning to watch the sunrise from the hill.
Ella se levanto temprano esa manana para ver el amanecer desde la colina.
To come up, emerge, appear. Used for problems, opportunities, situations, or questions that emerge. Formal.
Several complications arose during the surgery. The team handled them well.
Varias complicaciones surgieron durante la cirugia. El equipo las manejo bien.
Should any questions arise, feel free to contact us directly.
Si surge alguna pregunta, no dude en contactarnos directamente.
An unexpected opportunity arose when the CEO retired early.
Surgio una oportunidad inesperada cuando el director ejecutivo se jubilo anticipadamente.
Common mistake
Using "rise" for abstract situations that emerge: "A problem rose" sounds strange — the natural form is "A problem arose." "Arise" is almost exclusively for abstract things (problems, opportunities, questions, situations) that emerge or present themselves. "Rise" is for physical or numerical movement upward. Both share an irregular past: rise / rose / risen; arise / arose / arisen.
Trick to remember it
Physical or numerical subject (sun, water, price, temperature, person from bed): "rise". Abstract subject that unexpectedly emerges (problem, doubt, question, opportunity, conflict): "arise". "Arise" almost never takes a direct object — it is intransitive and formal. "When did this issue arise?" is typical of professional and academic English.
Quick rule
Rise = go up / get up (physical or numerical). Arise = come up / emerge (something abstract appears).
Did you know?
"Arise!" (stand up) appears frequently in the Bible and medieval English. Today it is almost never used physically — you say "Get up!" or "Stand up!" instead. "Arise" has narrowed its meaning over centuries from any kind of "getting up" to specifically abstract things that emerge or present themselves. Language change in action.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The temperature _____ by ten degrees within an hour during the heatwave.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
A number of unexpected problems _____ during the installation process.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Rise = go up / get up (physical or numerical). Arise = come up / emerge (something abstract appears).
Using "rise" for abstract situations that emerge: "A problem rose" sounds strange — the natural form is "A problem arose." "Arise" is almost exclusively for abstract things (problems, opportunities, questions, situations) that emerge or present themselves. "Rise" is for physical or numerical movement upward. Both share an irregular past: rise / rose / risen; arise / arose / arisen.
Physical or numerical subject (sun, water, price, temperature, person from bed): "rise". Abstract subject that unexpectedly emerges (problem, doubt, question, opportunity, conflict): "arise". "Arise" almost never takes a direct object — it is intransitive and formal. "When did this issue arise?" is typical of professional and academic English.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy