cerco

Cerco is a term in Italian that most commonly functions as the first-person singular present indicative form of the verb cercare, meaning to seek or to look for. It is part of the standard conjugation of cercare and appears in a wide range of contexts.

In use, cerco is often combined with direct objects or with phrases that indicate effort or intention. A common construction is cerco di + infinitive, which expresses an attempt or effort, as in cerco di capire or cerco di risolvere. Other typical examples include cerco lavoro (I am looking for a job) and ti cerco ovunque (I search for you everywhere). The form can also function transitively with an explicit object, such as cerco una risposta (I am looking for an answer).

Linguistically, cerco is a present tense form that interacts with other tenses and moods through the broader cercare paradigm. It serves as the base for related forms in past, future, and conditional constructions.

Etymology and related terms are tied to the broader verb cercare, which is used across standard Italian. As a standalone word, cerco does not denote a concept beyond its role as a conjugated verb form, but it is a common component of many phrases expressing searching, seeking, or attempting to obtain something.