Suche

Suche is a German noun meaning the act of looking for something, i.e., a search or a quest. It is the nominalized form of the verb suchen (to search). The feminine noun die Suche denotes the process of seeking, a particular search, or a search for something concrete or abstract, such as answers or meaning. The related noun das Suchen also exists and refers to the act of seeking in a more general or existential sense.

Common usages include phrases such as die Suche nach Informationen, die Suche nach Antworten, or auf der Suche nach etwas. It can refer to a specific search task, for example eine Suche starten (to start a search) or eine Suchanfrage abschicken (to submit a search query). In the context of technology, Suche is used for search functions on websites, databases, and software, with terms like Suchfunktion, Suchfeld, and Internetsuche.

Etymology traces Suche to the verb suchen, with the noun form dating from the same Germanic roots that produced related words for seeking and searching. The concept spans practical activities—locating objects or data—as well as broader, symbolic pursuits such as the search for truth, purpose, or a solution.

In culture, Die Suche is a common title for works in German-language media, including films and literature, reflecting the broad and enduring appeal of the theme of seeking. As a UI label, Suche remains a concise, user-friendly term for the search feature in German-language interfaces.