cobrar
/koh-BRAHR/
to charge (a price)
Cobrar: to charge (a price).
cobrar(verb)
to charge (a price)
?setting a fee
,to collect (a debt)
?receiving payment
to bill
?sending an invoice
📝 In Action
¿Cuánto me vas a cobrar por cortar el césped?
A2How much are you going to charge me for cutting the grass?
Necesito cobrar esta factura antes de fin de mes.
B1I need to collect this invoice before the end of the month.
💡 Grammar Points
Direct Object Needed
When you use 'cobrar' to mean 'to charge,' you must specify the money or fee being charged (the direct object): 'Cobró diez dólares' (He charged ten dollars).
⭐ Usage Tips
Asking for the Price
A very common way to ask 'How much does it cost?' when dealing with a service is: '¿Cuánto cobras?' (How much do you charge?)
Cobrar: to get paid.
cobrar(verb)
to get paid
?receiving salary
,to cash (a check)
?at a bank
to receive payment
?general context
📝 In Action
Yo cobro mi salario los días 15 de cada mes.
A2I get paid my salary on the 15th of every month.
Fui al banco a cobrar un cheque grande.
B1I went to the bank to cash a big check.
Si no cobras pronto, no podremos pagar el alquiler.
B2If you don't get paid soon, we won't be able to pay the rent.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with Reflexive Pronoun
While you can say 'cobrar el sueldo' (receive the salary), sometimes you hear 'cobrarse' used reflexively in some regions to emphasize the action of taking payment for oneself, though this is less common than the simple form.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Pagar' for Receiving
Mistake: "Using 'Pagar' when you mean 'to get paid' (e.g., 'Yo pago mañana')."
Correction: Use 'Cobrar' when the money is coming to you: 'Yo cobro mañana' (I get paid tomorrow). 'Pagar' means the money is leaving you.
Cobrar: to gain (strength or courage).
cobrar(verb)
to gain
?acquire strength or courage
,to take on
?acquire importance or relevance
to acquire
?figurative meaning
📝 In Action
El equipo cobró ánimo después del gol de empate.
B2The team gained courage/spirit after the tying goal.
El tema de la inflación está cobrando mucha importancia en la política actual.
C1The issue of inflation is taking on (or gaining) a lot of importance in current politics.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
In this meaning, 'cobrar' acts as a stand-in for 'to acquire' or 'to assume' when talking about abstract qualities like courage, importance, or life.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for inanimate objects
This meaning is often used when an inanimate object or idea starts to become powerful or influential: 'El rumor cobró credibilidad' (The rumor gained credibility).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cobrar
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cobrar' in the sense of receiving a salary?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cobrar' the same as 'pagar'?
No! This is a common confusion. 'Cobrar' means the money is coming *to* you (you are receiving payment or demanding it). 'Pagar' means the money is leaving *you* (you are spending or giving money to someone else).
How do I say 'to charge a phone' in Spanish?
You do not use 'cobrar' for charging a battery or device. For electronics, you must use the verb 'cargar'.