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"research" in seven languages

Meaningresearch

Spanish

investigación

/inbestigaˈθjon/

fem.other source · Latin INVESTĪGĀTIŌNEM 'tracking down' (learned)

Búsqueda is a search; scientific research is investigación.

French

recherche

/ʁəʃɛʁʃ/

fem.inherited

From rechercher; Old French cerchier became chercher by assimilation.

Italian

ricerca

/riˈtʃerka/

fem.inherited

Portuguese

pesquisa

/pesˈkizɐ/

fem.other source · Latin PERQUĪSĪTA 'sought out thoroughly' (from PERQUĪRERE)

Romanian

cercetare

/tʃertʃeˈtare/

fem.other source · Romanian cerceta, from Latin CIRCITĀRE

Same root: CIRCITĀRE is a frequentative of CIRCĀRE.

Catalan

recerca

/rəˈsɛɾkə/

fem.inherited

Built on cercar 'to look for' (CIRCĀRE), like French recherche.

English

research

/ˈɹisɝtʃ/

from Latin/French · Middle French recerche

English → ItalianresearchricercaCognateSame source — inherited, learned or borrowed. You can recognize it.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

CIRCĀRE‘to go around (from CIRCUS 'circle')’

All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.

The story

To search was 'to go around in circles'; research goes round again. Spanish chose a hunting word instead: INVESTĪGĀRE, to follow the tracks (VESTĪGIA).

English relatives: search, circle, circus

Sound laws at work

C before E and I

Learn it

Practice the Work & money deckQuiz a friend on it

In a sentence

  • esLa investigación lleva tiempo.
  • frLa recherche prend du temps.
  • itLa ricerca richiede tempo.
  • ptA pesquisa leva tempo.
  • roCercetarea cere timp.
  • caLa recerca demana temps.
  • enResearch takes time.

More words from the same Latin

More in Work & money

All Work & money words