buscador
Lemma Details
Translation: searcher; search engine; finder; seeker
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: Derived from the verb 'buscar' (to search, to look for) with the suffix '-dor' which indicates the agent who performs the action. The suffix '-dor' corresponds to English '-er' in words like 'searcher'. The verb 'buscar' itself may come from Old Spanish 'boscar', possibly from Latin 'boscus' (woods) with the original meaning of 'to go through the woods looking for something'.
Commonality: 80%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'buscar' (to search) + '-dor' (person who does something) = 'buscador' (searcher)
- Associate with 'busca' (search) and remember that a 'buscador' is something or someone that searches
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In modern Spanish, 'buscador' is commonly used to refer to internet search engines like Google. It's a term that has gained significant usage with the rise of digital technology.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'buscador' is a neutral term for someone who searches, 'buscón' has a negative connotation, often referring to a swindler or con artist.
Confused word:
Ten cuidado con ese buscón, te puede estafar.
Be careful with that swindler, he might scam you.
Notes: 'Buscón' is less common in modern Spanish and appears in literature, notably in the picaresque novel 'El Buscón' by Francisco de Quevedo.
Mnemonic: 'Buscador' ends with '-dor' like 'searcher' ends with '-er', while 'buscón' has a sharper ending, hinting at its negative meaning.
Explanation: 'Buscador' is a general term for a searcher or search engine, while 'buscapersonas' specifically refers to a pager or beeper (a device to find or alert people).
Confused word:
En los años 90, muchos médicos llevaban un buscapersonas.
In the 90s, many doctors carried a pager.
Notes: 'Buscapersonas' is a compound word that is becoming less common as pagers are replaced by mobile phones.
Mnemonic: 'Buscapersonas' literally means 'person-finder' (busca + personas), which is exactly what a pager does.