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"to investigate" in seven languages

Meaningto investigate

Spanish

investigar

/inbestiˈɡaɾ/

learned

Also 'to do research': investigar sobre el cáncer.

French

enquêter

/ɑ̃kete/

other source · French enquête, from Vulgar Latin *INQUAESĪTAM 'thing sought'

Investiguer exists but is rare.

Italian

indagare

/indaˈɡare/

other source · Latin INDĀGĀRE 'to track down (game)'

Investigare also exists; indagare is the usual word for the police.

Portuguese

investigar

/ĩvestʃiˈɡah/

learned

Romanian

investiga

/investiˈɡa/

learned

Catalan

investigar

/imbəstiˈɡa/

learned

English

investigate

/ɪnˈvɛstɪɡeɪt/

from Latin/French · Latin INVESTĪGĀRE

English → Italianto investigateindagareNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: vestige, investigation, inquest, inquiry.What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

INVESTĪGĀRE‘to track (VESTĪGIUM 'footprint')’

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

The story

To investigate is to follow footprints (VESTĪGIA). French holds an enquête (English inquest), and Italian also borrows a hunting verb, INDĀGĀRE 'to track down'.

English relatives: vestige, investigation, inquest, inquiry

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In a sentence

  • esLa policía está investigando el robo.
  • frLa police enquête sur le vol.
  • itLa polizia sta indagando sul furto.
  • ptA polícia está investigando o roubo.
  • roPoliția investighează furtul.
  • caLa policia està investigant el robatori.
  • enThe police are investigating the theft.

More in Core verbs

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