What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mirar hacia arriba literally means 'to look towards up'.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between physical movement and searching for information. Use mirar hacia arriba only when you are directing your eyes toward the sky. If you want to say you are searching for something, use buscar. To express the specific act of looking up information in a reference source like a dictionary or a map, consultar is a more precise and common choice.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the verb averiguar is often used to express 'look up' or 'find out'. In Argentina, the phrase buscarle la vuelta a is used to mean 'figure it out'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use mirar hacia arriba to mean searching for information in a text. This phrase only describes the physical act of looking toward the sky. Instead, use buscar or consultar depending on the context.
Did you know?
- The word arriba is derived from the Latin words ad and rīpam, which refer to a 'coast' or 'bank'. This suggests that 'up' was originally associated with moving toward the riverbank.
- While consultar is used to 'look up' a fact in a book, it is also the standard word for seeking a doctor's professional opinion.
Examples in context
- Necesito investigar más sobre ese temaI need to look up more information about that topic.
- Consultaré el diccionario para encontrar el significado de esa palabraI will consult the dictionary to look up the meaning of that word.
- Voy a buscar ese dato en InternetI'm going to look up that information on the internet.
- Voy a mirar información sobre ese temaI will look up information about that topic.
- Debemos buscarle la vuelta a este problemaWe need to figure out this problem.
- Voy a averiguar la respuesta a esa preguntaI'm going to look up/find out the answer to that question.
- Voy a investigar en InternetI'm going to look up/research on the internet.
- Buscar en el diccionarioLook up in the dictionary.
- Buscar informaciónLook up information
- Consultar un libroConsult/look up a book.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are studying in the library.
- ElenaNo sé qué significa esta frase, Javier.I don't know what this phrase means, Javier.
- JavierPuedes mirar hacia arriba el significado en este libro.You can look up the meaning in this book.
- ElenaGracias, voy a buscarlo ahora mismo.Thanks, I'm going to look for it right now.
- JavierDe nada, Elena. Avísame si lo encuentras.You're welcome, Elena. Let me know if you find it.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries arriba, hacia, mirar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
