averiguación

Averiguación is a Spanish term that translates to investigation, inquiry, or ascertainment in English. It refers to the process of seeking information or truth about a particular matter. This can be a formal or informal process depending on the context.

In a legal or administrative setting, an averiguación signifies a formal investigation conducted by authorities to gather facts, evidence, and testimonies related to a crime, dispute, or violation. This might involve interviewing witnesses, collecting physical evidence, and analyzing documents. The goal is to establish what happened and determine responsibility.

More broadly, averiguación can also describe a personal quest for knowledge or understanding. For instance, a student might conduct an averiguación for a research paper, or an individual might undertake an averiguación into their family history. In these instances, the process involves research, questioning, and exploration to uncover information and form conclusions. The essence of averiguación lies in the deliberate act of looking into something to learn more about it.