suchen
/ˈzuːxən/
To search or look for something in German is suchen.
The verb suchen is used when you are trying to find a person or a thing that is lost or currently needed.
Which one should you use?
While suchen describes the act of looking for something, the verb finden is used to describe the successful result of that search (to find).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Berlin and Eastern Germany, you may hear locals use the dialectal form Ick suche instead of the standard Ich suche.
How does it change in a sentence?
In standard German, suchen takes a direct accusative object. The simple past form (Präteritum) is suchte, and the past participle used for perfect tenses is gesucht.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈzuːxən/
Did you know?
- The German word Suche can describe a digital operation like a Google search or a profound 'spiritual quest'. This allows the word to bridge the gap between mundane technology and deep philosophy.
- The German verb suchen is a distant cousin of the English word 'seek'. They both trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'seek out'.
- While suchen is the standard verb, the Middle High German forms suochen and süechen were both used in different regions, showing how the word evolved through various vowel shifts.
Examples in context
- Entschuldigen Sie bitte, ich suche Informationen über …Excuse me, I'm looking for information about …
- Wären Sie so freundlich, mir bei meiner Suche behilflich zu sein?Would you be so kind as to assist me in my search?
- Ich suche meinen Schlüssel.I am looking for my key.
- Wir suchen ein neues Haus.We are looking for a new house.
- Suchen Sie den Bahnhof?Are you looking for the train station?
Example conversation
Hannah and Maximilian are in a bookstore.
- HannahMaximilian, was suchen Sie?Maximilian, what are you looking for?
- MaximilianIch suchen ein Kochbuch.I am looking for a cookbook.
- HannahIch kann Ihnen helfen.I can help you.
- MaximilianDas ist sehr nett von Ihnen.That is very kind of you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry suchen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries suchen, CC BY-SA 4.0.
