Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'search' holds immense significance in our daily lives, as it represents the act of looking for something or someone. This simple yet powerful term has been a part of human culture for centuries, shaping our behaviors, interactions, and even technology. For instance, the invention of search engines like Google has revolutionized how we access and share information, making the world more interconnected than ever before.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'search' in different languages can provide valuable insights into various cultures and their unique ways of perceiving and interacting with the world. For example, in Spanish, 'search' is 'búsqueda', while in French, it's 'recherche.' These translations not only reflect linguistic differences but also cultural nuances that can enrich our global understanding and appreciation of diversity.
So, whether you're a language enthusiast, a cultural explorer, or simply curious about the world around you, exploring the translations of 'search' in different languages can be an exciting and rewarding journey. Here are some translations to get you started:
Afrikaans | soek | ||
The word "Soek" in Afrikaans likely derives from the Old Frisian and Middle Low German "sōkian" or the Old High German "suohhen", all meaning "to seek". | |||
Amharic | ፍለጋ | ||
The word "ፍለጋ" is derived from the verb "ፍለገ" meaning to "pierce, penetrate, or dig" and has an alternate meaning of "exploration" or "investigation". | |||
Hausa | bincika | ||
In Hausa, "bincika" means "to search" and can also refer to "study" or "investigation". | |||
Igbo | chọọ | ||
The word "chọọ" in Igbo can also mean "to look for" or "to seek out". | |||
Malagasy | karohy | ||
In Malagasy, 'karohy' derives from 'aro' (look) and 'ka' (prefix indicating purpose). Its alternate meaning is 'investigation'. | |||
Nyanja (Chichewa) | fufuzani | ||
The word "fufuzani" in Nyanja (Chichewa) is derived from the Proto-Bantu word "*vufula", which also means "to search". | |||
Shona | tsvaga | ||
The word "tsvaga" comes from the Proto-Bantu root "-saka", meaning "to seek" or "to look for." | |||
Somali | raadinta | ||
Raadinta, "search" in Somali, also relates to the word "raad" meaning "trace" or "footprint." | |||
Sesotho | batla | ||
The word 'batla' also means 'to pursue'. | |||
Swahili | tafuta | ||
The word "tafuta" is also related to the Swahili word "upelelezi", which means "a detective", indicating its association with the search for information or clues. | |||
Xhosa | khangela | ||
In addition to 'search,' 'khangela' can mean 'to look for' or 'to examine'. | |||
Yoruba | wa | ||
Yoruba word "wa" means "seek", but also means "come" or even "become". | |||
Zulu | sesha | ||
The word "sesha" in Zulu can also refer to a thorough investigation or examination. | |||
Bambara | ɲini | ||
Ewe | di | ||
Kinyarwanda | gushakisha | ||
Lingala | koluka | ||
Luganda | okunoonya | ||
Sepedi | nyaka | ||
Twi (Akan) | hwehwɛ | ||
Arabic | بحث | ||
The word "بحث" also means "examination" or "research", indicating a broader scope of inquiry beyond simply finding information | |||
Hebrew | לחפש | ||
In Biblical Hebrew, "לחפש" also means "to visit," from the root "חפש" meaning "to discover." | |||
Pashto | لټون | ||
The Pashto word "لټون" is derived from the Persian word "جستجو" which also means "search". In Pashto, the word "لټون" can also be used to refer to a "quest" or an "investigation". | |||
Arabic | بحث | ||
The word "بحث" also means "examination" or "research", indicating a broader scope of inquiry beyond simply finding information |
Albanian | kërkim | ||
The Albanian word "kërkim" derives from the Proto-Albanian *karkim-, a derivative of the Proto-Indo-European root *ker- "to seek, search, yearn for". | |||
Basque | bilatu | ||
Basque bilatu (“seek out”) and bilha (“go, walk”) are also cognates to find, and the Indo-European origin appears to be the root *gwel-, meaning “to turn, move around.” | |||
Catalan | cerca | ||
The Catalan word "cerca" can also mean "fence" or "enclosure". | |||
Croatian | traži | ||
The word "traži" in Croatian can also mean to ask or demand. | |||
Danish | søg | ||
"Søg" is related to the Old Norse word "sók", which may have meant either search or trial and legal dispute. | |||
Dutch | zoeken | ||
The word "zoeken" is derived from the Middle Dutch word "soken", which means "to seek, inquire, or investigate." | |||
English | search | ||
"Search" also means "comb or rummage through (an area or object) in order to find something." (Oxford English Dictionary) | |||
French | chercher | ||
In French, "chercher" also carries connotations of hunting, investigating, or seeking something actively and intentionally | |||
Frisian | sykje | ||
Etymology: 'seek' + 'eye'; it originally meant 'to inspect with the eyes' | |||
Galician | busca | ||
The Galician word "busca" is related to the Spanish word "busco", both of which stem from the Latin word "buscare", meaning "to search or look for". | |||
German | suche | ||
Suche also means 'sickness' in Middle German and is the root of the English word 'siech', which means 'sick'. | |||
Icelandic | leita | ||
The word "leita" is a diminutive of the noun "leit", meaning "course" or "way". | |||
Irish | cuardach | ||
"Cuardach" is derived from the Old Irish word "cuardaim," meaning "to ask, question, or seek." | |||
Italian | ricerca | ||
Ricerca in Italian can also refer to a musical composition with sections imitating the structure of a fugue. | |||
Luxembourgish | sichen | ||
Sichen can also mean to seek justice or vengeance. | |||
Maltese | tfittxija | ||
The word "tfittxija" comes from the Arabic word "taftish", which means "investigation" or "inquisition". | |||
Norwegian | søk | ||
"Søk" comes from the Old Norse word for "seeker" and is also related to the Old English word "sacan," meaning "to strive to obtain." | |||
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | pesquisa | ||
"Pesquisa" in Portuguese is derived from the Latin word "perscrutari," meaning "to examine diligently." | |||
Scots Gaelic | lorg | ||
The word "lorg" in Scots Gaelic can also refer to the act of watching or observing. | |||
Spanish | buscar | ||
In addition to its primary meaning of "search," "buscar" can also mean "to seek," "to find," or "to obtain." | |||
Swedish | sök | ||
Sök is also used in a legal context as a type of application or request. | |||
Welsh | chwilio | ||
The Welsh word "chwilio" is also related to the word "chwyl," meaning "emotion" or "excitement." |
Belarusian | пошук | ||
Пошук derives from the Proto-Slavic word *potiskъ, which also meant "seeking" or "investigation". | |||
Bosnian | pretraga | ||
The word 'pretraga' also has the alternate meanings of 'inquiry' or 'investigation' when used as a noun. | |||
Bulgarian | търсене | ||
The word “ търсене ” is derived from the old Bulgarian word “ търсити ”, meaning “to seek” or “to look for”, and is related to the words “ търси ” (to search) and “ търсене ” (a search). | |||
Czech | vyhledávání | ||
The Czech word "Vyhledávání" can also refer to "a request for information" or "an investigation." | |||
Estonian | otsing | ||
In the Estonian language, the word "otsing" originates from the verb "otsima," which means "to seek" or "to look for," and is etymologically related to the Finnish word "etsiä," meaning "the same." | |||
Finnish | hae | ||
The word "hae" in Finnish can also refer to an application, such as a job application. | |||
Hungarian | keresés | ||
The word "keresés" comes from the Proto-Hungarian word "keres", meaning "to look for". | |||
Latvian | meklēt | ||
"Meklēt" is derived from the Old Prussian word "meklāi", which means "to think" or "to consider". | |||
Lithuanian | paieška | ||
The Lithuanian word "Paieška" is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "h₁reǵʰ-, meaning "to stretch" or "to move straight". | |||
Macedonian | пребарување | ||
The word "пребарување" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *iskati, meaning "to seek, to look for". | |||
Polish | szukaj | ||
Szukaj is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *sъkati, which means 'to seek' or 'to search'. | |||
Romanian | căutare | ||
The Romanian noun `căutare` is cognate with the French verb `chercher`, both derived from the Latin verb `quaerere` (to seek) | |||
Russian | поиск | ||
The word "поиск" also means "quest" or "inquest". | |||
Serbian | претрага | ||
Претрага originates from the Slavic verb "pretražiti", which also means to examine or investigate. | |||
Slovak | vyhľadávanie | ||
The Slovak word "Vyhľadávanie" can also mean "retrieval" or "investigation". | |||
Slovenian | iskanje | ||
The word "iskanje" comes from the Proto-Slavic word "iskati", meaning "to seek". | |||
Ukrainian | пошук | ||
Ukrainian word "пошук" derives from the old Slavic word "пытать," with meanings "to try," "to test," and "to question." |
Bengali | অনুসন্ধান | ||
অনুসন্ধান (onusondhan) originates from Sanskrit 'anusandhana', meaning 'following after' or 'tracing out'. | |||
Gujarati | શોધ | ||
The word "શોધ" (search) in Gujarati can also mean "discovery" or "finding". | |||
Hindi | खोज | ||
खोज is related to the Sanskrit word 'khodh', meaning 'to desire', 'to inquire' or 'to ask'. | |||
Kannada | ಹುಡುಕಿ kannada | ||
It originates from Old Kannada "ಹುಡುಕು" and is used in contexts besides 'search', like 'investigation' or 'trying to know' | |||
Malayalam | തിരയൽ | ||
തിരയൽ (Malayalam) could possibly also mean 'wave', 'surge', or 'billow' | |||
Marathi | शोध | ||
The word 'शोध' (शो-ध) in Marathi comes from the Sanskrit word 'शोध्य' (शो-ध्य) and also means 'investigation' or 'inquiry'. | |||
Nepali | खोजी गर्नुहोस् | ||
The word "खोजी गर्नुहोस्" is derived from the Sanskrit word "क्षोज", which means "to desire" or "to seek". | |||
Punjabi | ਖੋਜ | ||
The word "ਖੋਜ" (search) is also used in the context of "research" or "investigation" in Punjabi, further expanding its significance beyond the act of searching. | |||
Sinhala (Sinhalese) | සෙවීම | ||
Tamil | தேடல் | ||
"தேடல்", which means "search" in Tamil, originates from the Proto-Dravidian root "*tēṭ-" meaning "to seek, find". | |||
Telugu | వెతకండి | ||
The word "వెతకండి" comes from the Proto-Dravidian word *veṭ-, meaning "to hunt". | |||
Urdu | تلاش کریں | ||
تلاش کریں can also mean 'to attempt' or 'to endeavor', akin to the English word 'try'. |
Chinese (Simplified) | 搜索 | ||
"搜索" could also mean "to arrest" in the sense of "to look up and apprehend." | |||
Chinese (Traditional) | 搜索 | ||
"搜索" (Traditional Chinese) comes from the phrase "搜寻物品" (to seek and find), and it also means "investigation". | |||
Japanese | 探す | ||
The verb 探す (sagasu) also means "to feel for" something when you can't see it, such as feeling for your keys in your pocket. | |||
Korean | 검색 | ||
The term | |||
Mongolian | хайх | ||
The Mongolian word "хайх" (search) also carries the connotation of "seeking knowledge or wisdom" | |||
Myanmar (Burmese) | ရှာဖွေသည် | ||
Indonesian | cari | ||
The word 'cari' in Indonesian has cognate forms in various Malayo-Polynesian languages, such as the 'gawi' in Tagalog, 'halige' in Bikol, and 'taro' in Nias | |||
Javanese | telusuran | ||
"Telusuran" is a Javanese word derived from the root word "tulis" (write) and the suffix "-an" (the act of), meaning "the act of writing" or "an inscription." | |||
Khmer | ស្វែងរក | ||
Another meaning of "ស្វែងរក" is "to explore or investigate something." | |||
Lao | ຄົ້ນຫາ | ||
Malay | cari | ||
The word "cari" in Malay can also mean "to seek" or "to look for". | |||
Thai | ค้นหา | ||
The word "ค้นหา" in Thai originally meant "to dig for something", and is still used in this sense in some contexts. | |||
Vietnamese | tìm kiếm | ||
Tìm kiếm is also used as a noun to mean a search or investigation, particularly one conducted by the police or security services. | |||
Filipino (Tagalog) | paghahanap | ||
Azerbaijani | axtarış | ||
The word "axtarış" in Azerbaijani derives from the Persian word "axtar", meaning "to investigate". | |||
Kazakh | іздеу | ||
Derived from the Turkic word "it", meaning "to seek" or "to find". | |||
Kyrgyz | издөө | ||
"Издөө" means both "search" and "investigate" in Kyrgyz. | |||
Tajik | ҷустуҷӯ | ||
The word "ҷустуҷӯ" comes from the Persian word "جستجو" meaning "inquiry" or "investigation." | |||
Turkmen | gözlemek | ||
Uzbek | qidirmoq | ||
The verb "qidirmoq" in Uzbek is derived from the Proto-Turkic root "kidir-", which means "to seek" or "to hunt". | |||
Uyghur | ئىزدەش | ||
Hawaiian | ʻimi | ||
The word ʻimi can also refer to a prayer, a chant, a song, or an incantation. | |||
Maori | rapu | ||
The term "rapu" in Māori also implies "to seek" and "to inquire." | |||
Samoan | saili | ||
In addition to meaning 'search', 'saili' can mean to strive, attempt or make an effort. | |||
Tagalog (Filipino) | maghanap | ||
'Maghanap' comes from 'hanap,' or 'want' and 'mag-' or the affix for the verb 'to do' |
Aymara | thaqhata | ||
Guarani | jeheka | ||
Esperanto | serĉi | ||
The word "serĉi" can also be used to mean "seek", "look", or "request", depending on the context | |||
Latin | quaerere | ||
"Quaerere" not only means "to seek" but can also mean "to ask" or "to inquire". |
Greek | αναζήτηση | ||
"Αναζήτηση" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "ανά" (ana), meaning "up, over, through," and "ζήτηση" (zítisi), meaning "request, demand, search". | |||
Hmong | kev tshawb | ||
Kev tshawb literally means "to look for". | |||
Kurdish | gerr | ||
The word 'gerr' also means 'to seek', 'to inquire' or 'to ask'. | |||
Turkish | arama | ||
The Turkish word "arama" derives from the Arabic "arama", meaning "to seek" or "to ask for". | |||
Xhosa | khangela | ||
In addition to 'search,' 'khangela' can mean 'to look for' or 'to examine'. | |||
Yiddish | זוכן | ||
"זוכן" in Yiddish is similar to "sought" or "found" in English, and it's a derivative of the German word "suchen". | |||
Zulu | sesha | ||
The word "sesha" in Zulu can also refer to a thorough investigation or examination. | |||
Assamese | সন্ধান | ||
Aymara | thaqhata | ||
Bhojpuri | तलाशी | ||
Dhivehi | ހޯދުން | ||
Dogri | तपाश | ||
Filipino (Tagalog) | paghahanap | ||
Guarani | jeheka | ||
Ilocano | agbirok | ||
Krio | luk fɔ | ||
Kurdish (Sorani) | گەڕان | ||
Maithili | खोजनाइ | ||
Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯊꯤꯕ | ||
Mizo | zawng | ||
Oromo | barbaaduu | ||
Odia (Oriya) | ସନ୍ଧାନ | ||
Quechua | maskay | ||
Sanskrit | अन्वेषण | ||
Tatar | эзләү | ||
Tigrinya | ምድላይ | ||
Tsonga | secha | ||