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A2 noun #3,000 most common 7 min read

enquête

Top 3,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips enquête in 30 Seconds

Explanation enquête in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should recognize 'enquête' primarily as a 'survey' or 'questionnaire'. You might see it on a website asking for your feedback or in a simple classroom exercise. It is a feminine noun. You should know that 'une enquête' is something you can 'faire' (do) or 'répondre à' (respond to). Think of it as a list of questions designed to get information. For example, if your teacher asks 'Qui veut faire une enquête sur les couleurs préférées ?', they are asking who wants to do a survey. At this stage, focus on the spelling and the fact that it is feminine. Don't worry about the complex police meanings yet; just think of it as a tool for asking questions and getting answers in a structured way.

At the A2 level, you start to see 'enquête' in the context of news and simple stories. This is where the 'investigation' meaning becomes important. You will learn that 'la police mène une enquête' (the police are leading an investigation). You should be able to describe what an investigation is for: 'trouver un coupable' (to find a guilty person) or 'comprendre un problème' (to understand a problem). You will also encounter 'enquête de satisfaction' in shops or online. You should be comfortable using the verb 'mener' with this noun. You might also see 'enquêteur' (investigator). Practice saying 'Il y a une enquête en cours' (There is an investigation underway). This level focuses on using the word in common daily scenarios like reporting a lost item or answering a customer feedback form.

At the B1 level, you should be able to use 'enquête' in more professional and social discussions. You can talk about 'enquêtes d'opinion' (opinion polls) and how they influence politics. You should understand the difference between 'une enquête' and 'un sondage' (a poll). You can use adjectives to describe the investigation: 'une enquête approfondie' (a thorough investigation) or 'une enquête préliminaire' (a preliminary inquiry). You will also hear it in the context of 'journalisme d'enquête' (investigative journalism). At this stage, you should be able to express opinions about the results of an inquiry: 'Selon l'enquête, les gens sont plus heureux.' You are expected to use the correct prepositions, such as 'une enquête sur...' (an investigation into/on...). This level is about nuance and using the word to discuss social trends and news in more detail.

At the B2 level, you use 'enquête' to discuss complex legal, administrative, and scientific processes. You understand 'enquête publique' (public inquiry) and 'enquête administrative'. You can follow a news report about a 'commission d'enquête' (commission of inquiry) in parliament. You should be able to use the word in an academic or formal essay, perhaps discussing the methodology of a 'recherche' that included an 'enquête de terrain' (field investigation). You are comfortable with related terms like 'contre-enquête' (counter-investigation). You understand the legal weight of the word—that an 'enquête' can lead to a 'procès' (trial). You can also use it metaphorically, such as 'une enquête sur soi-même' (a search for oneself). This level requires a high degree of precision in both formal and informal contexts.

At the C1 level, you grasp the subtle legal and philosophical implications of 'enquête'. You can distinguish between an 'enquête de flagrance' and an 'enquête préliminaire' in the French legal system. You use the word in high-level sociological analysis, discussing the validity of 'protocoles d'enquête'. You can read complex investigative literature or academic papers where 'l'enquête' is treated as a philosophical method of inquiry into the nature of reality. You are familiar with historical 'enquêtes', such as those conducted by famous writers or social reformers. You can debate the ethics of certain 'enquêtes' (e.g., privacy concerns in data collection). Your vocabulary includes sophisticated collocations like 'diligenté une enquête' or 'clore une enquête'. This level is about mastery of the word in specialized domains and abstract thought.

At the C2 level, 'enquête' is a tool for deep intellectual discourse. You can write or speak about the 'épistémologie de l'enquête' (the epistemology of inquiry), referencing thinkers like John Dewey or Michel Foucault. You understand the word's role in the construction of historical narratives and institutional power. You can navigate the most technical legal documents regarding 'enquêtes judiciaires' with ease. You appreciate the word's use in avant-garde literature or complex cinematic narratives where the 'enquête' itself is the central theme of human existence. You can use the word with perfect stylistic flair, choosing it over 'investigation' or 'étude' to evoke specific cultural or historical connotations. At this level, your command of 'enquête' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker, used with precision, irony, or gravitas as required.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

enquête in 30 Seconds

Enquête means investigation or survey. It is used for both police work and gathering public opinions through questionnaires.
It is a feminine noun (une enquête). Use the verb 'mener' to say you are conducting or leading an investigation.
Common in news, crime shows, and marketing feedback forms. It implies a thorough and methodical process of discovery.
Distinguish it from 'sondage' (a quick poll) and 'recherche' (general research). It is more specific and field-oriented.

The French noun enquête is a versatile and essential term that primarily refers to a systematic investigation, a search for truth, or a data-gathering process. Depending on the context, it can translate to 'investigation', 'survey', 'inquiry', or 'poll'. In everyday life, you will encounter this word in two major spheres: the legal/police world and the sociological/marketing world. When the police are trying to solve a crime, they 'mènent une enquête' (conduct an investigation). When a company wants to know if you liked their product, they send you an 'enquête de satisfaction' (satisfaction survey).

Police Context: In a criminal setting, an enquête involves gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and following leads to identify a perpetrator. It is the formal process initiated by authorities after a crime is reported.

Sociological Context: In social sciences or business, an enquête is a method of collecting data from a specific population. This is often done via questionnaires or interviews to understand public opinion or consumer behavior.

L'inspecteur a commencé une enquête approfondie pour résoudre le mystère du vol de la banque.

Nous avons reçu les résultats de l'enquête d'opinion sur le nouveau projet de loi.

Journalistic Context: Journalism often uses 'enquête' to describe long-form investigative pieces where reporters dig deep into a scandal or a social issue, often called 'journalisme d'enquête'.

Le journal a publié une grande enquête sur la pollution des rivières locales.

Après l'accident, une enquête technique a été ordonnée par le gouvernement.

Les élèves participent à une enquête sur les habitudes alimentaires au collège.

Understanding 'enquête' is crucial because it spans from the thrill of a detective novel to the data-driven world of modern business. It is a word that signifies a transition from mystery to knowledge through methodical effort.

Using enquête correctly requires attention to the verbs it commonly pairs with and its feminine gender. The most frequent verb used with 'enquête' is mener (to lead/to conduct). You don't just 'do' an investigation in French; you 'lead' it. For example, 'La police mène l'enquête.' Another common verb is ouvrir (to open), used when an official investigation begins: 'Le procureur a ouvert une enquête.'

Grammar Tip: As a feminine noun, 'enquête' takes feminine adjectives: une enquête approfondie (a deep investigation), une enquête judiciaire (a judicial inquiry), une enquête administrative.

Cette enquête est très complexe et prendra plusieurs mois.

L'enquête parlementaire a révélé des erreurs graves de gestion.

Preposition Use: Use 'sur' to indicate the subject of the investigation: 'Une enquête sur la corruption' or 'Une enquête sur les prix'.

Avez-vous répondu à l'enquête envoyée par courriel hier ?

Toute enquête sérieuse doit commencer par une analyse des faits existants.

L'agent de police a consigné les témoignages dans son dossier d'enquête.

Whether you are reporting a crime or analyzing market trends, 'enquête' provides the formal structure needed to describe the act of searching for answers. It is a word of discovery and verification.

If you turn on the French news or watch a 'polar' (detective show), you will hear enquête constantly. On TV channels like BFMTV or France 2, journalists often start reports with 'Une enquête a été ouverte...' regarding a recent incident. In the world of French cinema and literature, the 'enquête policière' is a beloved genre, with iconic characters like Commissaire Maigret spending their lives 'en enquête'.

In the Workplace: Human Resources departments often launch an 'enquête interne' (internal investigation) if there are complaints of harassment or misconduct. Likewise, marketing teams talk about 'enquêtes de terrain' (field surveys).

Selon une enquête récente, 60% des Français sont favorables au télétravail.

L'émission 'Cash Investigation' est célèbre pour ses enquêtes choc sur les grandes entreprises.

In Academic Life: Students in sociology or geography often have to conduct 'enquêtes' as part of their thesis, involving interviews with locals or statistical analysis.

Nous attendons les conclusions de l'enquête publique avant de construire le pont.

Le commissaire a mis ses meilleurs hommes sur cette enquête.

L'enquête de voisinage n'a rien donné de concluant pour l'instant.

From the courtroom to the classroom, 'enquête' is the word for any process that seeks to uncover the reality beneath the surface.

One of the most frequent mistakes for English speakers is confusing enquête with other words like 'étude', 'recherche', or 'sondage'. While they are related, they are not interchangeable. An 'enquête' is specifically an investigation or a survey. If you are doing general research for a paper, use 'recherche'. If you are doing a quick 1-question poll on Twitter, use 'sondage'.

Gender Confusion: Many learners say 'un enquête' because it starts with a vowel and sounds neutral to them. It is strictly feminine: une enquête. Even when using l', remember that adjectives must be feminine: 'L'enquête est terminée'.

Faux : J'ai fait un enquête. Vrai : J'ai fait une enquête.

L'enquête (f) vs Le sondage (m).

Translation Trap: Don't translate 'inquiry' as 'demande' when you mean an investigation. 'Demande' is a request for information. 'Enquête' is the process of finding that information.

Il mène une enquête (He is leading an investigation) vs Il fait une recherche (He is doing research).

L'enquête préliminaire est cruciale pour le procès.

Ne confondez pas 'en quête de' (searching for) and 'une enquête' (an investigation).

By keeping the gender straight and choosing the right verb, you will sound much more like a native speaker.

To truly master enquête, you should know its synonyms and how they differ in nuance. This will help you choose the precise word for your situation.

Enquête vs. Sondage: An 'enquête' is a deep, systematic study. A 'sondage' is a quick poll of a sample group. Use 'sondage' for elections or quick opinions, and 'enquête' for detailed sociological studies.

Enquête vs. Recherche: 'Recherche' is broader. Scientific research is 'la recherche scientifique'. An 'enquête' is a specific instance of gathering data or clues. You might do 'une recherche' in a library, but you conduct 'une enquête' in the field.

L'inspecteur fait une enquête, tandis que le savant fait une recherche.

Enquête vs. Étude: An 'étude' is a general study of a subject. An 'enquête' is the specific method of collecting data for that study. You might publish an 'étude' based on the results of your 'enquête'.

Une enquête de terrain est nécessaire pour cette étude sociologique.

L'enquête de moralité est souvent requise pour certains emplois sensibles.

Il existe plusieurs types d'enquêtes : qualitatives et quantitatives.

Knowing these distinctions allows you to navigate professional and casual conversations with precision and confidence.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word 'enquête' shares the same root as the English word 'inquest' and 'inquiry'. The circumflex accent on the 'ê' in French often indicates that an 's' used to follow that vowel (enqueste).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɑ̃.kɛt/

US /ɑ̃.kɛt/

The stress is equal on both syllables, with a slight emphasis on the 'kɛt' sound.

Rhymes With

fête bête tête quête tempête arrête prête honnête

Common Errors

Pronouncing the final 'e' (it's silent).
Making the 'en' sound like 'in' (it should be deep and nasal).
Confusing it with the English word 'quiet'.
Pronouncing it as 'en-kwet' (the 'u' is silent after 'q').
Failure to make the 't' crisp.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Easy to recognize due to English cognates 'inquest/inquiry'.

Writing 3/5

Need to remember the circumflex 'ê' and the feminine gender.

Speaking 3/5

Nasal 'en' and silent 'u' in 'qu' can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Very common word, usually clear in news and media.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

question police chercher trouver réponse

Learn Next

indice témoignage coupable procès preuve

Advanced

jurisprudence flagrant délit perquisition interrogatoire commission d'enquête

Grammar to Know

Feminine noun agreement

L'enquête est terminée.

Nasal 'en' pronunciation

Enquête, enfant, ensemble.

Silent 'u' after 'q'

Enquête, question, qui.

Preposition 'sur' for topics

Une enquête sur la santé.

Verb 'mener' with abstract nouns

Mener une enquête, mener une vie calme.

Examples by Level

J'ai une enquête pour l'école.

I have a survey for school.

Simple subject-verb-object structure.

C'est une petite enquête.

It is a small survey.

Adjective 'petite' matches feminine noun 'enquête'.

Répondez à l'enquête, s'il vous plaît.

Answer the survey, please.

Imperative form of 'répondre' with preposition 'à'.

L'enquête est sur les fruits.

The survey is about fruits.

Preposition 'sur' indicates the topic.

Voici une enquête facile.

Here is an easy survey.

Adjective 'facile' is the same for masculine and feminine.

Tu aimes cette enquête ?

Do you like this survey?

Demonstrative adjective 'cette' for feminine singular.

L'enquête commence maintenant.

The survey starts now.

Present tense of 'commencer'.

C'est une enquête de la classe.

It is a class survey.

Possession using 'de'.

La police mène une enquête.

The police are conducting an investigation.

Standard verb 'mener' for investigations.

L'enquête a été rapide.

The investigation was fast.

Passé composé with 'être' and feminine agreement 'rapide'.

Il y a une enquête dans le quartier.

There is an investigation in the neighborhood.

Use of 'il y a' for existence.

L'enquête cherche le voleur.

The investigation is looking for the thief.

Personification of the noun 'enquête' as the subject.

Nous faisons une enquête de satisfaction.

We are doing a satisfaction survey.

Common business phrase.

L'enquête est terminée.

The investigation is finished.

Feminine agreement 'terminée' with the past participle.

Où est le dossier d'enquête ?

Where is the investigation file?

Noun-noun construction using 'de'.

L'enquêteur pose des questions.

The investigator is asking questions.

Related noun 'enquêteur'.

L'enquête révèle des faits surprenants.

The investigation reveals surprising facts.

Verb 'révéler' in the present tense.

Une enquête d'opinion a été publiée hier.

An opinion poll was published yesterday.

Passive voice 'a été publiée'.

L'enquête se poursuit malgré les difficultés.

The investigation continues despite the difficulties.

Pronominal verb 'se poursuivre'.

Le juge a ordonné une enquête complémentaire.

The judge ordered a complementary inquiry.

Adjective 'complémentaire' modifying 'enquête'.

Elle a participé à une enquête sociologique.

She participated in a sociological survey.

Preposition 'à' after 'participer'.

L'enquête de voisinage n'a rien donné.

The neighborhood inquiry yielded nothing.

Negative structure 'ne... rien'.

Il faut clore cette enquête rapidement.

This investigation must be closed quickly.

Verb 'clore' (to close/end).

L'enquête met en lumière un problème grave.

The investigation highlights a serious problem.

Idiom 'mettre en lumière' (to highlight).

L'enquête administrative a duré six mois.

The administrative inquiry lasted six months.

Compound noun with adjective.

Une enquête approfondie est nécessaire ici.

A thorough investigation is necessary here.

Strong adjective 'approfondie'.

L'enquête pointe du doigt les responsables.

The investigation points the finger at those responsible.

Idiom 'pointer du doigt'.

L'enquête a été confiée à un expert.

The investigation was entrusted to an expert.

Passive voice with indirect object.

Les résultats de l'enquête sont contestés.

The results of the survey are being contested.

Plural agreement 'contestés'.

L'enquête parlementaire a fait grand bruit.

The parliamentary inquiry caused a stir.

Idiom 'faire grand bruit'.

Il mène une enquête de terrain en Afrique.

He is conducting field research in Africa.

Specific term 'enquête de terrain'.

L'enquête a révélé des failles de sécurité.

The investigation revealed security flaws.

Noun 'failles' (flaws/gaps).

L'enquête de flagrance permet des perquisitions.

The investigation of a flagrant offense allows for searches.

Technical legal term 'enquête de flagrance'.

L'enquête corrobore les témoignages recueillis.

The investigation corroborates the testimonies gathered.

Formal verb 'corroborer'.

L'enquête préliminaire a été classée sans suite.

The preliminary inquiry was closed without further action.

Legal idiom 'classée sans suite'.

Cette enquête bouscule les idées reçues.

This survey challenges received wisdom.

Idiomatic use of 'bousculer'.

L'enquête a été diligentée par le ministère.

The investigation was carried out by the ministry.

Formal verb 'diligenter'.

L'enquête soulève des questions éthiques.

The investigation raises ethical questions.

Abstract usage of 'soulever'.

Les conclusions de l'enquête sont accablantes.

The findings of the investigation are damning.

Strong adjective 'accablantes'.

L'enquête s'inscrit dans une démarche globale.

The investigation is part of a global approach.

Reflexive verb 's'inscrire dans'.

L'enquête devient ici une quête ontologique.

The inquiry here becomes an ontological quest.

Highly abstract philosophical usage.

L'enquêteur se perd dans les méandres de l'enquête.

The investigator gets lost in the twists and turns of the investigation.

Metaphorical use of 'méandres'.

L'enquête déconstruit le mythe de la neutralité.

The investigation deconstructs the myth of neutrality.

Academic verb 'déconstruire'.

L'enquête est le pivot de cette narration complexe.

The investigation is the pivot of this complex narrative.

Literary analysis term 'pivot'.

L'enquête exhaustive ne laisse place à aucun doute.

The exhaustive investigation leaves no room for doubt.

Strong adjective 'exhaustive'.

L'enquête sous-tend toute la politique sociale.

The survey underlies the entire social policy.

Verb 'sous-tendre' (to underlie).

L'enquête a été entachée d'irrégularités.

The investigation was marred by irregularities.

Formal passive construction with 'entacher'.

L'enquête se heurte au secret professionnel.

The investigation runs up against professional secrecy.

Idiom 'se heurter à' (to run up against).

Common Collocations

mener une enquête

ouvrir une enquête

enquête de satisfaction

enquête d'opinion

enquête de terrain

enquête policière

enquête administrative

enquête préliminaire

clore une enquête

résultats de l'enquête

Common Phrases

Enquête en cours

— An investigation currently happening. Often seen on signs or in news reports.

Ne pas entrer, enquête en cours.

Faire une enquête

— To perform a survey or investigation. More casual than 'mener'.

On va faire une enquête auprès des clients.

Dossier d'enquête

— The physical or digital file containing all the investigation's data.

Le dossier d'enquête est sur mon bureau.

Commission d'enquête

— A group of people (often politicians) assigned to investigate a specific issue.

La commission d'enquête parlementaire se réunit demain.

Éléments d'enquête

— Pieces of evidence or information gathered during the process.

Nous avons de nouveaux éléments d'enquête.

Objet de l'enquête

— The main focus or reason for the investigation.

L'objet de l'enquête est de trouver la source de la fuite.

Phase d'enquête

— The specific period of time during which the data is being collected.

Nous sommes encore dans la phase d'enquête.

Enquête de voisinage

— When police ask neighbors if they saw anything suspicious.

L'enquête de voisinage a permis de trouver un témoin.

Secret de l'enquête

— The legal requirement that details of an ongoing investigation remain confidential.

Le procureur doit respecter le secret de l'enquête.

Rapport d'enquête

— The final document summarizing the findings of the investigation.

Le rapport d'enquête sera publié le mois prochain.

Often Confused With

enquête vs qu'est-ce que

Sounds similar to beginners but means 'what is'.

enquête vs en quête de

A phrase meaning 'searching for', related but not the same as the noun 'enquête'.

enquête vs requête

Means a 'request' or 'petition', not an investigation.

Idioms & Expressions

"Mener l'enquête"

— To play detective or to look into something carefully in a casual way.

Ma mère mène l'enquête pour savoir qui a mangé le gâteau.

informal

"Être en quête de"

— To be searching for something (related root). Usually abstract.

Il est en quête de vérité.

literary

"Faire une enquête de moralité"

— A background check on someone's character.

L'entreprise a fait une enquête de moralité avant de l'embaucher.

professional

"Une enquête à charge et à décharge"

— An investigation that looks for evidence both for and against someone.

Le juge doit mener une enquête à charge et à décharge.

legal

"L'enquête piétine"

— When an investigation is making no progress.

Malheureusement, l'enquête piétine depuis trois semaines.

journalistic

"Remonter le fil de l'enquête"

— To retrace the steps or follow the clues from the beginning.

Nous devons remonter le fil de l'enquête pour comprendre l'erreur.

metaphorical

"Une enquête de longue haleine"

— A long-term, extensive investigation.

C'est une enquête de longue haleine qui a duré deux ans.

neutral

"Être sous le coup d'une enquête"

— To be the target of an ongoing investigation.

Le ministre est sous le coup d'une enquête pour fraude.

journalistic

"L'enquête suit son cours"

— The investigation is proceeding as normal.

Pour l'instant, l'enquête suit son cours.

formal

"Déclencher une enquête"

— To trigger or start an investigation immediately due to an event.

L'incendie a déclenché une enquête criminelle.

neutral

Easily Confused

enquête vs sondage

Both involve asking questions.

A 'sondage' is a quick poll; an 'enquête' is a deeper, more systematic study.

Le sondage a duré une minute, mais l'enquête a duré un mois.

enquête vs recherche

Both involve looking for info.

'Recherche' is general research (books, lab); 'enquête' is field-based data collection.

Elle fait de la recherche en chimie, mais mène une enquête sur le terrain.

enquête vs étude

Both are academic/analytical.

An 'étude' is the overall analysis; an 'enquête' is the tool used to gather the data for that analysis.

L'étude s'appuie sur une enquête nationale.

enquête vs examen

Both imply looking closely.

'Examen' is a test or a medical check; 'enquête' is an investigation into a situation.

Le médecin fait un examen, pas une enquête.

enquête vs interrogation

Both involve questions.

'Interrogation' is the act of questioning (often in school); 'enquête' is the whole investigation.

L'enquête inclut plusieurs interrogations.

Sentence Patterns

C'est une enquête sur [nom].

C'est une enquête sur le sport.

La police mène une enquête.

La police mène une enquête sur le vol.

Selon l'enquête, [phrase].

Selon l'enquête, les gens préfèrent le café.

Une enquête a été ouverte par [autorité].

Une enquête a été ouverte par le gouvernement.

L'enquête met en évidence [concept].

L'enquête met en évidence les inégalités sociales.

L'enquête se heurte à [obstacle].

L'enquête se heurte au manque de preuves.

Any

Répondre à une enquête.

Je dois répondre à une enquête.

Any

Les résultats de l'enquête.

Les résultats de l'enquête sont clairs.

Word Family

Nouns

enquêteur (m) / enquêteuse (f) - investigator

quêtes - searches/quests

requête - request/petition

Verbs

enquêter - to investigate

quêter - to seek/collect donations

requêter - to request (rare)

Adjectives

enquêteur - investigative

enquêté - the person being surveyed

questionnaire

sondage

recherche

indice

témoin

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely common in both spoken and written French.

Common Mistakes

Un enquête → Une enquête
The word is feminine. Because it starts with a vowel, people often forget this, but 'cette enquête' or 'une enquête' are the only correct forms.
Faire une investigation → Mener une enquête
While 'investigation' exists, 'mener une enquête' is the standard, natural way to say you are conducting an investigation in French.
Répondre l'enquête → Répondre à l'enquête
The verb 'répondre' always requires the preposition 'à' when followed by an object.
Une enquête de recherche → Une enquête de terrain
If you mean field research, the specific term is 'enquête de terrain'. 'Enquête de recherche' is redundant and awkward.
L'enquête est fini → L'enquête est finie
As a feminine noun, the past participle 'fini' must take an 'e' at the end to agree with 'enquête'.

Tips

Gender Check

Always pair 'enquête' with feminine adjectives. Say 'une enquête complète' rather than 'complet'. This is a key marker of fluency.

Mener vs. Faire

Use 'mener une enquête' when you want to sound professional or like a detective. Use 'faire une enquête' for casual surveys.

Nasal Power

The first syllable is nasal. Don't pronounce the 'n' like in 'pen'. It should be a single nasal vowel sound.

Business Surveys

If you work in a French-speaking office, you will see 'enquête de satisfaction' all the time. It's the standard term for customer feedback.

TV Genres

If you like crime shows, look for the 'Série d'enquête' category on French streaming sites like Canal+ or France.tv.

The Hat

Don't forget the circumflex accent on the 'ê'. It doesn't change the sound much, but it's vital for correct writing.

Police Terms

When you hear 'Une enquête est ouverte', it means the legal process has officially started. It's a very formal announcement.

Field Work

In a university setting, 'enquête de terrain' is the standard term for field research or ethnographic study.

Respond to a survey

Use the preposition 'à': 'Répondre à une enquête'. Don't say 'Répondre une enquête'.

Cognate Help

Think of 'inquest'. If a word looks like 'en-quest', it's probably about searching for information!

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of an 'enquête' as an 'inquest' or 'inquiry'. Both words start with 'en/in' and involve asking 'questions' (notice the 'q' in all of them!).

Visual Association

Imagine a detective with a magnifying glass looking at a giant question mark made of paper questionnaires.

Word Web

Police Sondage Questions Vérité Témoin Indices Crime Satisfaction

Challenge

Try to use 'enquête' in three different contexts: a police story, a feedback form, and a news report about public opinion.

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French word 'enqueste', which comes from the Vulgar Latin 'inquesta'. This itself stems from the Latin 'inquirere', meaning 'to seek into' or 'to search for'.

Original meaning: A search, a pursuit, or a judicial inquiry.

Romance (Latin)

Cultural Context

Be aware that 'enquête' in a workplace context can imply serious trouble (harassment, fraud), so use it carefully.

In English, we often use 'survey' for marketing and 'investigation' for police. French uses 'enquête' for both, which can be confusing for learners.

Les Enquêtes du Commissaire Maigret (famous book/TV series) Cash Investigation (popular TV show) L'Enquête (2015 film about the Clearstream scandal)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Criminal Investigation

Mener l'enquête
Ouvrir une enquête criminelle
Indices d'enquête
Secret de l'enquête

Marketing/Business

Enquête de satisfaction
Répondre à une enquête
Résultats de l'enquête
Enquête par questionnaire

Sociology/Research

Enquête de terrain
Enquête d'opinion
Enquête qualitative
Mener une enquête sociologique

Journalism

Journalisme d'enquête
Une enquête exclusive
Révélations de l'enquête
Grande enquête

Public Administration

Enquête publique
Enquête administrative
Commission d'enquête
Conclusions de l'enquête

Conversation Starters

"Avez-vous déjà répondu à une enquête de satisfaction pour cette marque ?"

"Que penses-tu des résultats de la dernière enquête d'opinion ?"

"Est-ce que tu aimes lire des romans d'enquête policière ?"

"Si tu devais mener une enquête sur un mystère, lequel choisirais-tu ?"

"L'enquête sur l'accident a-t-elle enfin donné des résultats ?"

Journal Prompts

Décrivez une enquête que vous aimeriez mener dans votre ville ou votre quartier.

Racontez une histoire courte où un détective doit résoudre une enquête difficile.

Pensez-vous que les enquêtes de satisfaction sont vraiment utiles pour les entreprises ?

Écrivez sur une enquête célèbre que vous avez suivie dans les actualités récemment.

Comment imaginez-vous le travail quotidien d'un enquêteur de police ?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is strictly feminine: une enquête. This is a common mistake for learners because the word starts with a vowel, making the gender harder to hear with 'l'enquête'.

A 'sondage' is a poll, usually quick and focused on one or two questions for a large group. An 'enquête' is a thorough investigation or a detailed survey with many questions.

Yes, 'investigation' exists in French, but it is much less common than 'enquête'. It sounds more formal or like an English loanword (anglicism) in many contexts.

The most natural verb is 'mener' (to lead/conduct). You can also use 'faire' (to do), 'ouvrir' (to open), or 'réaliser' (to carry out).

No! It is very common in business (enquête de satisfaction) and sociology (enquête d'opinion) to mean a survey or study.

It is a nasal vowel. Open your mouth slightly, keep your tongue down, and let the air go through your nose. It sounds like the 'en' in 'enfant'.

It means 'in search of'. While it uses the same root, it's a fixed prepositional phrase. Example: 'Il est en quête de bonheur' (He is in search of happiness).

It's a 'neighborhood inquiry' where police go door-to-door to ask residents if they saw or heard anything related to a crime.

It translates to 'investigative journalism', where reporters spend a long time researching a single topic to uncover hidden truths.

No, the 'u' is silent. The 'qu' makes a hard 'k' sound, just like in 'question' or 'quatre'.