Inklingo
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Two young children are kneeling on the floor in a brightly colored room, intently looking under a large, plush sofa cushion, searching for a hidden object.

buscan

BOOS-kahn

Verb (Conjugated Form)A1regular (-ar ending), third person plural present indicative ar
they look for?Searching for an object or person,they are searching?Action happening now
Also:you look for?Formal plural (Ustedes) in Latin America or Spain,they seek?Figurative: Seeking a solution or goal

Quick Reference

infinitivebuscar
gerundbuscando
past Participlebuscado

📝 In Action

Mis padres buscan una casa más grande.

A1

My parents are looking for a bigger house.

¿Qué buscan ustedes en esta tienda?

A2

What are you (all, formal) looking for in this store?

Los científicos buscan la cura para esa enfermedad.

B1

The scientists seek the cure for that disease.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • encuentran (they find)
  • pierden (they lose)

Common Collocations

  • buscan trabajo – they are looking for a job
  • buscan pelea – they are looking for a fight/trouble

💡 Grammar Points

Who is 'buscan'?

'Buscan' means 'they look for' (ellos/ellas) or the formal 'you look for' (ustedes). It describes an action done by a group of people.

No Preposition Needed

Unlike English ('look for'), the Spanish verb 'buscar' doesn't need a small connecting word (preposition) before the thing being searched for.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Adding 'por'

Mistake: "Ellos buscan *por* la llave."

Correction: Ellos buscan la llave. (Do not add 'por'—the verb 'buscar' already includes the meaning of 'for.')

⭐ Usage Tips

The 'c' to 'qu' Rule

Notice that 'buscan' uses 'c'. However, when the verb 'buscar' is followed by an 'e' (like in the present subjunctive form 'busquen'), the 'c' changes to 'qu' to keep the hard 'k' sound!

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: buscan

Question 1 of 2

Which English pronoun is NOT represented by the verb form 'buscan'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

buscar(to look for / to search) - verb
la búsqueda(the search / the quest) - noun
buscador(search engine / searcher) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'buscan' the same as 'busquen'?

No. 'Buscan' is the simple statement of fact ('They look for'). 'Busquen' is the special form used for wishes, doubts, or indirect commands (e.g., 'I hope that they look for...').

Can 'buscan' be used to mean 'to search for trouble'?

Yes. If someone is 'buscando pelea' (looking for a fight) or 'buscando problemas' (looking for problems), 'buscan' is the correct form to say 'They are looking for trouble.'