chercher
/ʃɛʁ.ʃe/
To look up (information) in French is chercher.
The verb is used to describe the act of obtaining information about something from a text source.
Meaning: to obtain information about something from a text source (verb)
Which one should you use?
The term rechercher is a formal alternative used for looking up information and consulter is a formal term implying the act of consulting or investigating a source.
How does it change in a sentence?
Note that chercher is a versatile verb. It is used both to mean 'to look up' information and 'to look for' a person or an object.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃɛʁ.ʃe/ (2 syllables)
Did you know?
- The verb chercher shares an ancestor with the English word 'circle' and the Latin 'circus' through its Middle French origin, 'cerchier'.
- If you use consulter instead of chercher when looking up information, you sound more like an expert performing an investigation than a student doing a task.
- Using chercher to describe looking up a word in a dictionary can sometimes sound as if the word itself is lost and you are hunting for it.
Examples in context
- Je vais chercher le vocabulaire dans le dictionnaire.I'll look up the vocabulary in the dictionary.This sentence shows how to use chercher to look up vocabulary in a dictionary.Tatoeba #11659972 by Aiji, translation #4632439 by mactrey
- J'aurais pas imaginé qu'un jour j'irais chercher « viagra » dans Wikipédia.I wouldn't have thought I would someday look up "Viagra" in Wikipedia.This sentence shows how to use chercher to look up a specific term in Wikipedia.Tatoeba #3235 by sysko, translation #1419 by Nudl
- Je vais chercher cette information pour vousI will look this information up for you
- Je vais rechercher cette référence dans la base de donnéesI will look up this reference in the database
- Je vais consulter ce livre pour trouver la réponseI will look up the answer in this book
- Regarde ça sur InternetLook it up on the internet
- Je vais vérifier les horaires du cinémaI will look up the movie theater's schedule
- Je vais chercher les détails dont vous avez besoinI will look up the details you need
- Tu devrais chercher ce mot dans un dictionnaire.You should look up this word in a dictionary.
Example conversation
Léa and Nathan are studying in a library.
- LéaNathan, je ne comprends pas cette phrase.Nathan, I don't understand this sentence.
- NathanTu peux chercher le sens sur ton téléphone.You can look up the meaning on your phone.
- LéaC'est une bonne idée, merci.That is a good idea, thanks.
- NathanDe rien, Léa.You're welcome, Léa.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “look up” translations and entries chercher, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chercher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
