Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| búsqueda | /ˈbuskeda/ | feminine |
| esfuerzo | /esˈfweɾθo/ /esˈfweɾso/ |
feminine |
| misión | /miˈsjon/ | feminine |
The term quest can be translated in several ways depending on the specific nature of the journey or effort. Use búsqueda when referring to the act of searching for or seeking something, such as an object or a concept like truth. If the quest is a specific, purposeful assignment or a grand objective, use misión. Related concepts include indagación (inquiry) and investigación (investigation). To express the action of a quest, you might use the verb buscar (to search), perseguir (to pursue) or emprender (to undertake).
Which one should you use?
Use búsqueda for a quest that focuses on the act of searching or pursuit. In contrast, use misión when the quest is framed as a mission or a specific task.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun búsqueda is feminine and requires the feminine article la when used in the singular, such as in la búsqueda.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbuskeda/
When do people say it?
An idiomatic expression related to this concept is en busca del Santo Grial, which means 'in search of the Holy Grail'.
Did you know?
- The word búsqueda is used for both a legendary quest and a simple digital 'search' on a web browser.
- The word misión does not only mean a quest or task, but also refers to a historical religious settlement or a diplomatic outpost in Latin America.
- The word esfuerzo is a cognate of the English word 'effort', both originating from Latin terms for 'heroic actions'.
Examples in context
- Abu al-Husayn ibn al-Rawandi, ya en el siglo nueve, sostuvo que la razón es la guía exclusiva de los hombres a la verdad, una búsqueda en la que la revelación no es de ayuda.Abu al-Husayn ibn al-Rawandi, already in the ninth century, held that reason is man's exclusive guide to truth, a quest in which revelation is of no help.This sentence illustrates the use of búsqueda in a philosophical context regarding the pursuit of truth.Tatoeba #1103303 by inmachan, translation #534428 by sacredceltic
- El profesor comenzó una extensa búsqueda para resolver el misterio histórico.The professor embarked on an extensive quest to solve the historical mystery.
- Mis amigos y yo decidimos emprender una aventura para descubrir el tesoro perdido.My friends and I decided to embark on a quest to discover the lost treasure.
- La búsqueda de la felicidad es importante.The quest for happiness is important.
- Su búsqueda de la verdad terminó pronto.Her quest for the truth ended soon.
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about a historical research project.
- Alejandro¿Cómo va tu búsqueda de documentos históricos?How is your quest for historical documents going?
- MaríaEs difícil, pero no me rindo.It is difficult, but I won't give up.
- AlejandroEres una mujer muy persistente, María.You are a very persistent woman, Maria.
- MaríaGracias, Alejandro, tengo que lograrlo.Thanks, Alejandro, I have to achieve it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quest” translations and entries búsqueda, esfuerzo, misión, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries búsqueda, esfuerzo, misión, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
