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A friendly character wearing a detective hat kneels on bright green grass, using a large magnifying glass to inspect a tiny lost button.

busco

BOOS-koh

verbA1regular ar
I look for?The action of trying to find something,I search?The process of looking
Also:I am looking for?Used in present actions,I seek?More formal context

Quick Reference

infinitivebuscar
gerundbuscando
past Participlebuscado

📝 In Action

Busco mis llaves. ¿Las has visto?

A1

I am looking for my keys. Have you seen them?

Busco un buen café cerca de aquí.

A1

I'm looking for a good coffee shop near here.

Busco trabajo en el sector tecnológico.

A2

I am seeking work in the technology sector.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • encontrar (to find (often the result of looking))
  • rastrear (to track / to trace)

Common Collocations

  • busco información – I look for information
  • busco la solución – I look for the solution

💡 Grammar Points

The 'I' Form

Busco means 'I look for.' Spanish often drops the 'yo' (I), so you usually just need to say 'Busco' and everyone knows who is doing the action.

Verb Type

This verb, 'buscar', is a regular AR verb, meaning its endings follow the most common pattern, making it easy to learn.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Preterite Spelling Change

Mistake: "Yo buscé"

Correction: Yo busqué. In the past tense ('I looked for'), the 'c' changes to 'qu' to keep the hard /k/ sound before the 'e'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Expressing Intent

To say you are looking for someone or something, you simply use 'busco' followed by the item/person. If it's a person, remember to use the 'personal a': 'Busco a mi hermana' (I look for my sister).

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedbusca
yobusco
túbuscas
ellos/ellas/ustedesbuscan
nosotrosbuscamos
vosotrosbuscáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedbuscaba
yobuscaba
túbuscabas
ellos/ellas/ustedesbuscaban
nosotrosbuscábamos
vosotrosbuscabais

preterite

él/ella/ustedbuscó
yobusqué
túbuscaste
ellos/ellas/ustedesbuscaron
nosotrosbuscamos
vosotrosbuscasteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedbusque
yobusque
túbusques
ellos/ellas/ustedesbusquen
nosotrosbusquemos
vosotrosbusquéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedbuscara / buscase
yobuscara / buscase
túbuscaras / buscases
ellos/ellas/ustedesbuscaran / buscasen
nosotrosbuscáramos / buscásemos
vosotrosbuscarais / buscaseis
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: busco

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish pronoun is implied when you say 'Busco'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'busco' the same as 'estoy buscando'?

They are very similar! 'Busco' means 'I look for' or 'I am looking for' (simple present). 'Estoy buscando' (I am searching) uses the continuous form, which emphasizes that the action is happening right this moment. In everyday conversation, 'Busco' is often shorter and more common.

Does 'busco' require a preposition afterward?

No, 'busco' is used directly with the thing or person you are trying to find. For example, 'Busco el libro' (I look for the book). If you are looking for a person, you must use the 'personal a': 'Busco a Juan' (I look for Juan).