Buscar vs. Procurar: Look for or Pick Someone Up in Portuguese
Procurar focuses on searching; buscar can mean searching for something or going to get a person or item.
Real Life Portuguese · 5 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Procurar commonly means to look for or search for something. It can take a person, place, object, or piece of information as its direct object.
Use procurar when the search is the main idea
Add a location with em when you explain where you are searching. The thing you are looking for still follows procurar directly.
Estou procurando uma farmácia aberta.
I’m looking for an open pharmacy.
Procurei o recibo na bolsa.
I looked for the receipt in my bag.
Ela está procurando um apartamento perto do trabalho.
She’s looking for an apartment near work.
Use buscar for a search or a pickup
Buscar can also mean ‘look for,’ and in many contexts it means to go get or pick someone or something up. The destination or person often makes this pickup meaning clear.
The verbs overlap when you are searching. Choose buscar when the act of going to get the item or person matters; choose procurar when the search itself is central.
Vou buscar minha irmã no aeroporto.
I’m going to pick up my sister at the airport.
Você pode buscar o pedido para mim?
Can you pick up the order for me?
Estamos buscando uma solução simples.
We’re looking for a simple solution.
Put it into practice
Both verbs can mean to look for. Buscar also commonly means to go get or pick up; procurar keeps the focus on searching.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Can you pick up the order for me”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
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