Enquête vs. investigation

'Enquête' and 'investigation' are French words often used in the context of probing or examining an issue, especially within legal or journalistic fields. While they share similarities in meaning, they are utilized in different contexts within the French language.

Enquête

A general term for a systematic or official investigation to establish facts, particularly in relation to incidents or crimes. It is commonly used in both legal proceedings and journalistic reporting.
La police a ouvert une enquête sur le cambriolage de la bijouterie.
(The police opened an investigation into the jewelry store burglary.)
Une enquête publique a été lancée pour comprendre les causes de l'accident.
(A public inquiry was launched to understand the causes of the accident.)
Les journalistes mènent une enquête sur la corruption politique.
(Journalists are conducting an investigation into political corruption.)

Investigation

A term more specifically used for detailed and thorough investigations, implying a higher level of complexity or a need for specialized expertise; often used for reference in scientific or technical contexts.
L'équipe mène une investigation approfondie sur les causes de l'effondrement du pont.
(The team is conducting a thorough investigation into the causes of the bridge collapse.)
L'agence de santé réalise une investigation pour identifier la source de l'épidémie.
(The health agency is carrying out an investigation to identify the source of the epidemic.)
Cette affaire nécessite une investigation minutieuse par des experts en cybercriminalité.
(This case requires meticulous investigation by cybersecurity experts.)

Summary

Although 'enquête' and 'investigation' both refer to processes of seeking information, 'enquête' is a broader term used for examinations related to crimes or public interest, frequently seen in policing and journalism contexts, while 'investigation' implies a more complex, detailed process often involving expert analysis, usually scientific or technical in nature. The latter is less commonly used and carries with it an expectation of depth and specialization not always associated with 'enquête'.