suchen vs fahnden
German word comparison
Listen to suchen
Listen to fahnden
| suchen | fahnden |
|---|---|
ZOO-khen verb | FAHN-den verb |
| to look for; to search (for someone or something) | to hunt or search for someone (typically used for police searches or manhunts) |
How they differ
Fahnden is used mainly for official searches, especially by police seeking suspects or missing persons, while suchen is neutral and can be used by anyone in everyday situations.
When to use each
When to use suchen: Use suchen for general, everyday searches by individuals or groups without legal/official connotations.
When to use fahnden: Use fahnden when referring to an official, often law-enforcement-led search for a person (e.g., a wanted suspect or missing individual).
Side-by-side examples
- Die Polizei sucht den Verdächtigen.
(The police are looking for the suspect.) - Die Polizei fahndet nach dem Verdächtigen.
(The police are conducting a manhunt for the suspect.)
Register & nuance: Specialized; typically used in legal, police or media contexts rather than in everyday private speech.