buscar
/boos-KAR/
to look for
Buscar (to look for): A character searches diligently under a sofa for a lost item.
buscar(Verb)
to look for
?searching for something lost or needed
to search for
?general searching
,to seek
?more formal, for abstract things like truth or happiness
📝 In Action
Busco mis llaves. ¿Las has visto?
A1I'm looking for my keys. Have you seen them?
Mi hermano busca trabajo en Madrid.
A2My brother is looking for a job in Madrid.
Los científicos buscan una cura para la enfermedad.
B1The scientists are searching for a cure for the disease.
💡 Grammar Points
Spelling Change Alert!
When 'buscar' needs an 'e' after the 'c', the 'c' changes to 'qu' to keep the hard 'k' sound. See this in 'yo busqué' (I looked for) and 'que yo busque' (a special form for wishes).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Add 'por' or 'para'
Mistake: "Busco por mis llaves."
Correction: Busco mis llaves. The verb 'buscar' already means 'to look for', so you don't need to add an extra word for 'for'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use the Personal 'a'
When you're looking for a person or a pet, remember to add 'a' before their name or title. For example, 'Busco a mi perro' (I'm looking for my dog), but 'Busco mi teléfono' (I'm looking for my phone).
Buscar (to pick up): An adult collects two children from the school building.
buscar(Verb)
to pick up
?collecting a person from a place
to fetch
?going to get an object
,to get
?going to retrieve something
📝 In Action
Voy a buscar a los niños a la escuela a las cinco.
A2I'm going to pick up the kids from school at five.
¿Puedes buscar el pan en la tienda, por favor?
A2Can you get the bread at the store, please?
Tengo que ir a buscar mi traje a la tintorería.
B1I have to go get my suit from the dry cleaner's.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
You'll know 'buscar' means 'to pick up' or 'to get' when it's about going somewhere to retrieve something or someone. Look for other verbs like 'ir a' (to go to) or 'venir a' (to come to) right before it.
Buscar (to look for trouble): One person confronts and provokes another, clearly looking for a fight.
buscar(Verb)
to look for trouble
?provoking a negative situation
to ask for it
?inviting a bad outcome
📝 In Action
Si sigues molestándolo, estás buscando problemas.
B2If you keep bothering him, you're looking for trouble.
No me mires así, ¿estás buscando pelea?
B2Don't look at me like that, are you looking for a fight?
Él se lo buscó. Le advertimos que no invirtiera en eso.
C1He asked for it. We warned him not to invest in that.
⭐ Usage Tips
Often Used Reflexively: 'buscarse'
For this meaning, you'll often see 'buscar' with 'se' attached, like 'se lo buscó'. This emphasizes that the person brought the trouble upon themselves.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: buscar
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly means 'I'm going to pick up my sister from the airport'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't you say 'buscar por' for 'to look for'?
It's a great question because 'por' often means 'for'. However, the Spanish verb 'buscar' already has the idea of 'for' built into it. Think of 'buscar' as a single-word package that means 'to-look-for'. Adding 'por' is a common mistake for English speakers, but in Spanish it sounds a bit redundant.
How can I tell if 'buscar' means 'to look for' or 'to pick up'?
It all comes down to context. If someone is talking about a lost item ('Busco mis llaves'), it means 'to look for'. If they are talking about going somewhere to get a person or thing ('Voy a buscar a los niños'), it means 'to pick up' or 'to get'. The verb 'ir a' (to go to) is a big clue!