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coger

ko-kher/koˈxeɾ/

to take, to grab

Also: to catch
VerbA1irregular (g -> j in some present tenses) er
Latin America (General)
A simplified illustration of a hand picking up a bright red apple from a patch of green grass.
infinitivecoger
gerundcogiendo
past Participlecogido

📝 In Action

Por favor, coge ese libro de la mesa.

A1

Please, grab that book from the table.

Necesitas coger la herramienta con firmeza.

A2

You need to take hold of the tool firmly.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • coger algo en el aire – to catch something in the air

to catch, to get

Also: to take
VerbA2irregular (g -> j in some present tenses) er
Latin America (General)
A simplified illustration showing a person stepping onto the entrance stairs of a large yellow bus at a bus stop.
infinitivecoger
gerundcogiendo
past Participlecogido

📝 In Action

Si no te apuras, vas a perder el tren, ¡cógelo ya!

A2

If you don't hurry up, you're going to miss the train, catch it now!

Creo que cogí un resfriado por el frío de anoche.

B1

I think I caught a cold because of the cold last night.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tomar (to take (transport))
  • pillar (to catch/snag (Spain informal))

Common Collocations

  • coger el autobús – to catch the bus
  • coger velocidad – to pick up speed

to have sex

Also: to screw
VerbC2irregular (g -> j in some present tenses) erslang/vulgar
Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, Andean Region
A highly simplified, abstract illustration showing two human figures standing very close together in a tight embrace, suggesting intimacy.
infinitivecoger
gerundcogiendo
past Participlecogido

📝 In Action

¡Cuidado! En México esa palabra significa algo muy diferente y muy vulgar.

C2

Watch out! In Mexico that word means something very different and very vulgar.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • follar (to have sex (Spain slang))
  • chingar (to screw/mess up (Mexico vulgar))

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedcoge
yocojo
túcoges
ellos/ellas/ustedescogen
nosotroscogemos
vosotroscogéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedcogía
yocogía
túcogías
ellos/ellas/ustedescogían
nosotroscogíamos
vosotroscogíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedcogió
yocogí
túcogiste
ellos/ellas/ustedescogieron
nosotroscogimos
vosotroscogisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedcoja
yocoja
túcojas
ellos/ellas/ustedescojan
nosotroscojamos
vosotroscojáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedcogiera
yocogiera
túcogieras
ellos/ellas/ustedescogieran
nosotroscogiéramos
vosotroscogierais
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "coger" in Spanish:

i caught→to catch→to get→to grab→to screw→to take→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: coger

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence would be considered rude or inappropriate in Mexico?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
cogida(grip; (LA slang) sexual act) — Noun
recoger(to pick up, gather) — Verb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin verb *collīgere* (to gather, collect), which eventually merged with other roots related to taking hold of something.

First recorded: Around the 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: colher

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'coger' have such different meanings across Spanish-speaking countries?

This is one of the biggest regional differences in Spanish! In Spain, 'coger' is the neutral, everyday word for 'to take' or 'to catch (a bus)'. However, due to linguistic shifts in Latin America, 'coger' became the predominant vulgar slang term for 'to have sex,' leading speakers there to use safer alternatives like 'tomar' or 'agarrar' for the neutral meanings.

If I am only speaking to Spaniards, is it safe to use 'coger'?

Yes. If you are exclusively in Spain, 'coger' is the standard, safe, and expected word for 'to grab,' 'to take,' or 'to catch a train.' The vulgar meaning is not common there.