diff --git a/meilisearch-core/src/bucket_sort.rs b/meilisearch-core/src/bucket_sort.rs
index a3c4b89af..17cb8c47c 100644
--- a/meilisearch-core/src/bucket_sort.rs
+++ b/meilisearch-core/src/bucket_sort.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ use crate::distinct_map::{BufferedDistinctMap, DistinctMap};
 use crate::raw_document::RawDocument;
 use crate::{database::MainT, reordered_attrs::ReorderedAttrs};
 use crate::{store, Document, DocumentId, MResult};
+use crate::query_tree::create_query_tree;
 
 pub fn bucket_sort<'c, FI>(
     reader: &heed::RoTxn<MainT>,
@@ -46,6 +47,9 @@ pub fn bucket_sort<'c, FI>(
 where
     FI: Fn(DocumentId) -> bool,
 {
+    let operation = create_query_tree(reader, postings_lists_store, synonyms_store, query).unwrap();
+    println!("{:?}", operation);
+
     // We delegate the filter work to the distinct query builder,
     // specifying a distinct rule that has no effect.
     if filter.is_some() {
diff --git a/meilisearch-core/src/lib.rs b/meilisearch-core/src/lib.rs
index 3d2dd4b67..755cb4759 100644
--- a/meilisearch-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/meilisearch-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ mod error;
 mod levenshtein;
 mod number;
 mod query_builder;
+mod query_tree;
 mod ranked_map;
 mod raw_document;
 mod reordered_attrs;
diff --git a/meilisearch-core/src/query_tree.rs b/meilisearch-core/src/query_tree.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..17bf5f483
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meilisearch-core/src/query_tree.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,354 @@
+use std::borrow::Cow;
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::time::Instant;
+use std::{cmp, fmt, iter::once};
+
+use sdset::{Set, SetBuf, SetOperation};
+use slice_group_by::StrGroupBy;
+use itertools::{EitherOrBoth, merge_join_by};
+
+use crate::database::MainT;
+use crate::{store, DocumentId, DocIndex, MResult};
+
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
+pub enum Operation {
+    And(Vec<Operation>),
+    Or(Vec<Operation>),
+    Query(Query),
+}
+
+impl fmt::Debug for Operation {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        fn pprint_tree(f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>, op: &Operation, depth: usize) -> fmt::Result {
+            match op {
+                Operation::And(children) => {
+                    writeln!(f, "{:1$}AND", "", depth * 2)?;
+                    children.iter().try_for_each(|c| pprint_tree(f, c, depth + 1))
+                },
+                Operation::Or(children) => {
+                    writeln!(f, "{:1$}OR", "", depth * 2)?;
+                    children.iter().try_for_each(|c| pprint_tree(f, c, depth + 1))
+                },
+                Operation::Query(query) => writeln!(f, "{:2$}{:?}", "", query, depth * 2),
+            }
+        }
+
+        pprint_tree(f, self, 0)
+    }
+}
+
+pub type QueryId = usize;
+
+#[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
+pub enum Query {
+    Tolerant(QueryId, String),
+    Exact(QueryId, String),
+    Prefix(QueryId, String),
+    Phrase(QueryId, Vec<String>),
+}
+
+impl Query {
+    fn tolerant(id: QueryId, s: &str) -> Query {
+        Query::Tolerant(id, s.to_string())
+    }
+
+    fn prefix(id: QueryId, s: &str) -> Query {
+        Query::Prefix(id, s.to_string())
+    }
+
+    fn phrase2(id: QueryId, (left, right): (&str, &str)) -> Query {
+        Query::Phrase(id, vec![left.to_owned(), right.to_owned()])
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct PostingsList {
+    docids: SetBuf<DocumentId>,
+    matches: SetBuf<DocIndex>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default)]
+pub struct Context {
+    pub synonyms: HashMap<Vec<String>, Vec<Vec<String>>>,
+    pub postings: HashMap<String, PostingsList>,
+}
+
+fn split_best_frequency<'a>(
+    reader: &heed::RoTxn<MainT>,
+    postings_lists: store::PostingsLists,
+    word: &'a str,
+) -> MResult<Option<(&'a str, &'a str)>>
+{
+    let chars = word.char_indices().skip(1);
+    let mut best = None;
+
+    for (i, _) in chars {
+        let (left, right) = word.split_at(i);
+
+        let left_freq = postings_lists.postings_list(reader, left.as_bytes())?.map(|pl| pl.len()).unwrap_or(0);
+        let right_freq = postings_lists.postings_list(reader, right.as_bytes())?.map(|pl| pl.len()).unwrap_or(0);
+
+        let min_freq = cmp::min(left_freq, right_freq);
+        if min_freq != 0 && best.map_or(true, |(old, _, _)| min_freq > old) {
+            best = Some((min_freq, left, right));
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(best.map(|(_, l, r)| (l, r)))
+}
+
+fn fetch_synonyms(
+    reader: &heed::RoTxn<MainT>,
+    synonyms: store::Synonyms,
+    words: &[&str],
+) -> MResult<Vec<Vec<String>>>
+{
+    let words = words.join(" "); // TODO ugly
+    // synonyms.synonyms(reader, words.as_bytes()).cloned().unwrap_or_default()
+    Ok(vec![])
+}
+
+fn is_last<I: IntoIterator>(iter: I) -> impl Iterator<Item=(bool, I::Item)> {
+    let mut iter = iter.into_iter().peekable();
+    core::iter::from_fn(move || {
+        iter.next().map(|item| (iter.peek().is_none(), item))
+    })
+}
+
+fn create_operation<I, F>(iter: I, f: F) -> Operation
+where I: IntoIterator<Item=Operation>,
+      F: Fn(Vec<Operation>) -> Operation,
+{
+    let mut iter = iter.into_iter();
+    match (iter.next(), iter.next()) {
+        (Some(first), None) => first,
+        (first, second) => f(first.into_iter().chain(second).chain(iter).collect()),
+    }
+}
+
+const MAX_NGRAM: usize = 3;
+
+pub fn create_query_tree(
+    reader: &heed::RoTxn<MainT>,
+    postings_lists: store::PostingsLists,
+    synonyms: store::Synonyms,
+    query: &str,
+) -> MResult<Operation>
+{
+    let query = query.to_lowercase();
+
+    let words = query.linear_group_by_key(char::is_whitespace).map(ToOwned::to_owned);
+    let words = words.filter(|s| !s.contains(char::is_whitespace)).enumerate();
+    let words: Vec<_> = words.collect();
+
+    let mut ngrams = Vec::new();
+    for ngram in 1..=MAX_NGRAM {
+        let ngiter = words.windows(ngram).enumerate().map(|(i, group)| {
+            let before = words[..i].windows(1);
+            let after = words[i + ngram..].windows(1);
+            before.chain(Some(group)).chain(after)
+        });
+
+        for group in ngiter {
+            let mut ops = Vec::new();
+
+            for (is_last, words) in is_last(group) {
+                let mut alts = Vec::new();
+                match words {
+                    [(id, word)] => {
+                        let phrase = split_best_frequency(reader, postings_lists, word)?
+                            .map(|ws| Query::phrase2(*id, ws)).map(Operation::Query);
+
+                        let synonyms = fetch_synonyms(reader, synonyms, &[word])?.into_iter().map(|alts| {
+                            let iter = alts.into_iter().map(|w| Query::Exact(*id, w)).map(Operation::Query);
+                            create_operation(iter, Operation::And)
+                        });
+
+                        let query = if is_last {
+                            Query::prefix(*id, word)
+                        } else {
+                            Query::tolerant(*id, word)
+                        };
+
+                        alts.push(Operation::Query(query));
+                        alts.extend(synonyms.chain(phrase));
+                    },
+                    words => {
+                        let id = words[0].0;
+                        let words: Vec<_> = words.iter().map(|(_, s)| s.as_str()).collect();
+
+                        for synonym in fetch_synonyms(reader, synonyms, &words)? {
+                            let synonym = synonym.into_iter().map(|s| Operation::Query(Query::Exact(id, s)));
+                            let synonym = create_operation(synonym, Operation::And);
+                            alts.push(synonym);
+                        }
+
+                        let query = if is_last {
+                            Query::Prefix(id, words.concat())
+                        } else {
+                            Query::Exact(id, words.concat())
+                        };
+
+                        alts.push(Operation::Query(query));
+                    }
+                }
+
+                ops.push(create_operation(alts, Operation::Or));
+            }
+
+            ngrams.push(create_operation(ops, Operation::And));
+            if ngram == 1 { break }
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(create_operation(ngrams, Operation::Or))
+}
+
+pub struct QueryResult<'q, 'c> {
+    pub docids: Cow<'c, Set<DocumentId>>,
+    pub queries: HashMap<&'q Query, Cow<'c, Set<DocIndex>>>,
+}
+
+pub type Postings<'q, 'c> = HashMap<&'q Query, Cow<'c, Set<DocIndex>>>;
+pub type Cache<'o, 'c> = HashMap<&'o Operation, Cow<'c, Set<DocumentId>>>;
+
+pub fn traverse_query_tree<'a, 'c>(ctx: &'c Context, tree: &'a Operation) -> QueryResult<'a, 'c> {
+    fn execute_and<'o, 'c>(
+        ctx: &'c Context,
+        cache: &mut Cache<'o, 'c>,
+        postings: &mut Postings<'o, 'c>,
+        depth: usize,
+        operations: &'o [Operation],
+    ) -> Cow<'c, Set<DocumentId>>
+    {
+        println!("{:1$}AND", "", depth * 2);
+
+        let before = Instant::now();
+        let mut results = Vec::new();
+
+        for op in operations {
+            if cache.get(op).is_none() {
+                let docids = match op {
+                    Operation::And(ops) => execute_and(ctx, cache, postings, depth + 1, &ops),
+                    Operation::Or(ops) => execute_or(ctx, cache, postings, depth + 1, &ops),
+                    Operation::Query(query) => execute_query(ctx, postings, depth + 1, &query),
+                };
+                cache.insert(op, docids);
+            }
+        }
+
+        for op in operations {
+            if let Some(docids) = cache.get(op) {
+                results.push(docids.as_ref());
+            }
+        }
+
+        let op = sdset::multi::Intersection::new(results);
+        let docids = op.into_set_buf();
+        let docids: Cow<Set<_>> = Cow::Owned(docids);
+
+        println!("{:3$}--- AND fetched {} documents in {:.02?}", "", docids.len(), before.elapsed(), depth * 2);
+
+        docids
+    }
+
+    fn execute_or<'o, 'c>(
+        ctx: &'c Context,
+        cache: &mut Cache<'o, 'c>,
+        postings: &mut Postings<'o, 'c>,
+        depth: usize,
+        operations: &'o [Operation],
+    ) -> Cow<'c, Set<DocumentId>>
+    {
+        println!("{:1$}OR", "", depth * 2);
+
+        let before = Instant::now();
+        let mut ids = Vec::new();
+
+        for op in operations {
+            let docids = match cache.get(op) {
+                Some(docids) => docids,
+                None => {
+                    let docids = match op {
+                        Operation::And(ops) => execute_and(ctx, cache, postings, depth + 1, &ops),
+                        Operation::Or(ops) => execute_or(ctx, cache, postings, depth + 1, &ops),
+                        Operation::Query(query) => execute_query(ctx, postings, depth + 1, &query),
+                    };
+                    cache.entry(op).or_insert(docids)
+                }
+            };
+
+            ids.extend(docids.as_ref());
+        }
+
+        let docids = SetBuf::from_dirty(ids);
+        let docids: Cow<Set<_>> = Cow::Owned(docids);
+
+        println!("{:3$}--- OR fetched {} documents in {:.02?}", "", docids.len(), before.elapsed(), depth * 2);
+
+        docids
+    }
+
+    fn execute_query<'o, 'c>(
+        ctx: &'c Context,
+        postings: &mut Postings<'o, 'c>,
+        depth: usize,
+        query: &'o Query,
+    ) -> Cow<'c, Set<DocumentId>>
+    {
+        let before = Instant::now();
+        let (docids, matches) = match query {
+            Query::Tolerant(_, word) | Query::Exact(_, word) | Query::Prefix(_, word) => {
+                if let Some(PostingsList { docids, matches }) = ctx.postings.get(word) {
+                    (Cow::Borrowed(docids.as_set()), Cow::Borrowed(matches.as_set()))
+                } else {
+                    (Cow::default(), Cow::default())
+                }
+            },
+            Query::Phrase(_, words) => {
+                if let [first, second] = words.as_slice() {
+                    let default = SetBuf::default();
+                    let first = ctx.postings.get(first).map(|pl| &pl.matches).unwrap_or(&default);
+                    let second = ctx.postings.get(second).map(|pl| &pl.matches).unwrap_or(&default);
+
+                    let iter = merge_join_by(first.as_slice(), second.as_slice(), |a, b| {
+                        let x = (a.document_id, a.attribute, (a.word_index as u32) + 1);
+                        let y = (b.document_id, b.attribute, b.word_index as u32);
+                        x.cmp(&y)
+                    });
+
+                    let matches: Vec<_> = iter
+                        .filter_map(EitherOrBoth::both)
+                        .flat_map(|(a, b)| once(*a).chain(Some(*b)))
+                        .collect();
+
+                    let mut docids: Vec<_> = matches.iter().map(|m| m.document_id).collect();
+                    docids.dedup();
+
+                    println!("{:2$}matches {:?}", "", matches, depth * 2);
+
+                    (Cow::Owned(SetBuf::new(docids).unwrap()), Cow::Owned(SetBuf::new(matches).unwrap()))
+                } else {
+                    println!("{:2$}{:?} skipped", "", words, depth * 2);
+                    (Cow::default(), Cow::default())
+                }
+            },
+        };
+
+        println!("{:4$}{:?} fetched {:?} documents in {:.02?}", "", query, docids.len(), before.elapsed(), depth * 2);
+
+        postings.insert(query, matches);
+        docids
+    }
+
+    let mut cache = Cache::new();
+    let mut postings = Postings::new();
+
+    let docids = match tree {
+        Operation::And(operations) => execute_and(ctx, &mut cache, &mut postings, 0, &operations),
+        Operation::Or(operations) => execute_or(ctx, &mut cache, &mut postings, 0, &operations),
+        Operation::Query(query) => execute_query(ctx, &mut postings, 0, &query),
+    };
+
+    QueryResult { docids, queries: postings }
+}