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"Encuentra" is a form of "encontrar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to find". "Se busca" is a form of "se busca", a phrase which is often translated as "wanted". Learn more about the difference between "encuentra" and "se busca" below.
encontrar(
ehn
-
kohn
-
trahr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to find
Al fin encontré las llaves del coche.I finally found my car keys.
a. to discover
Ellos encontraron una caja vieja en el bosque.They discovered an old box in the forest.
b. to encounter
Encontramos una bifurcación en el sendero y no sabíamos qué dirección tomar.We encountered a fork in the road and didn't know which path to take.
a. to find
¿No te gusta ir al teatro? - No, lo encuentro muy aburrido.Don't you like to go to the theater? - No, I find it very boring.
encontrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to be
La playa se encuentra al otro lado de la calle.The beach is on the opposite side of the street.
a. to feel
No me encuentro muy animado.I'm not feeling too lively.
b. to be
Ya me encuentro mucho mejor.I'm a lot better already.
c. to be doing
Me encuentro mucho mejor que el año pasado.I'm doing a lot better than last year.
a. to meet
Nos encontraremos en el bar para una copa.We'll meet at the bar for a drink.
a. to find oneself
Me encuentro en un dilema.I find myself in a dilemma.
a. to run into
¿Has visto a tu ex recientemente? - Sí. Nos encontramos en el metro hace unas semanas.Have you seen your ex recently? - Yes. We ran into each other on the metro a couple of weeks ago.
b. to run across
Ayer me encontré con Francisca. No sabía que estaba embarazada.I ran across Francisca yesterday. I didn't know she was pregnant.
c. to bump into
La semana pasada me encontré con tu hermano. Se ve más sano.I bumped into your brother last week. He looks healthier.
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se busca(
seh
 
boos
-
kah
)
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
phrase
a. wanted
Se busca personal. No se requiere experiencia. Razón aquí.Staff wanted. No experience required. Ask inside.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Es fácil conocer el significado de las palabras si se busca en el diccionario.It's easy to know the meaning of words if you look it up in a dictionary.
Con esta reforma se busca incrementar la igualdad salarial entre hombres y mujeres.This reform seeks to increase equal pay between men and women.
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