French · Everyday Verbs
"to look for" in French: chercher
chercher
To look for in French is chercher: je cherche mes clés, tu cherches un appart ? Unlike English, you don't add pour — chercher already means look for.
Lost wallet
Je cherche mon portefeuille partout.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce chercher
Say it
shehr-SHAY
/ʃɛʁ.ʃe/
Chercher: shehr-SHAY. Soft ch like ship; stress on the last syllable.
"to look for" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| chercher | to look for People, things, solutions. | People, things, solutions. |
| je cherche | I'm looking for Present everyday. | Present everyday. |
| chercher un emploi | to look for a job Work. | Work. |
| aller chercher | to go get / pick up Fetch someone or something. | Fetch someone or something. |
How to use chercher in real life
- 1Lost wallet
Je cherche mon portefeuille partout.
I'm looking for my wallet everywhere.
Je cherche = I'm looking for.
- 2Housing
On cherche un studio près du métro.
We're looking for a studio near the metro.
Chercher + noun, no pour.
- 3Picking someone up
Je vais chercher Léa à la gare.
I'm going to pick Léa up at the station.
Aller chercher = go get.
Mistakes English speakers make with chercher
Incorrect: Je cherche pour mes clés.
Correct: Je cherche mes clés.
No pour after chercher for look for.
Incorrect: Je look pour un hôtel.
Correct: Je cherche un hôtel.
Use chercher, not English look.
Good to know
Aller chercher is the everyday pick-up phrase: je vais te chercher. Chercheur is a researcher — different word from the verb chercher.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Before leaving the apartment
ChatPal
Tu cherches encore tes écouteurs ?
Are you still looking for your earbuds?
You
Oui, je les cherche depuis dix minutes.
Yes — I've been looking for them for ten minutes.
ChatPal
Regarde dans mon sac, je les cherche avec toi.
Check my bag — I'll look for them with you.
You
Les voilà ! Merci.
There they are! Thanks.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to look for" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to look for" in French
How do you say to look for in French?
Chercher.
Do you say chercher pour ?
No — chercher + object directly.
What does aller chercher mean?
To go get / pick up.
How do you pronounce chercher?
shehr-SHAY.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
