cogido
/coh-HEE-doh/
caught
As a past participle, cogido translates to 'caught,' often referring to capture.
cogido(Past Participle)
caught
?as in 'having been caught'
,grabbed
?as in 'held tightly'
taken
?e.g., 'the bus was taken'
,held
?physically restrained
📝 In Action
El ladrón fue cogido por la policía.
A2The thief was caught by the police.
Hemos cogido todas las manzanas del árbol.
B1We have grabbed all the apples from the tree.
💡 Grammar Points
Forming Perfect Tenses
Use 'cogido' with a form of the verb 'haber' (to have) to describe actions completed in the past, like 'He cogido' (I have caught).
Agreement as an Adjective
When used to describe a person or thing, 'cogido' must match its gender and number: 'la cosa cogida' (the thing caught), 'los libros cogidos' (the books taken).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Participles
Mistake: "Using 'cogiendo' (the -ing form) instead of 'cogido' for perfect tenses."
Correction: Always use the '-ido' form ('cogido') with 'haber' for completed actions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Regional Caution
In Spain, this word is completely neutral. In most of Latin America, however, the verb coger and its participle cogido are highly vulgar (see Definition 3). Use 'tomado' or 'agarrado' to avoid offense there.
Used as an adjective, cogido can mean 'taken aback' or stunned.
cogido(Adjective)
taken aback
?surprised or stunned
,understood
?when a concept is grasped
in a bind
?stuck or constrained
📝 In Action
Cuando le dieron la noticia, se quedó cogido.
B1When they gave him the news, he was taken aback (stunned).
Ahora que me lo explicas, ya lo tengo cogido.
B2Now that you explain it to me, I’ve got it (I understand it).
💡 Grammar Points
Describing a State
Use 'estar' (to be) with 'cogido' to talk about a temporary state, like being surprised or having just understood something.
In vulgar slang, cogido translates to 'screwed,' referring to having had sexual intercourse.
cogido(Adjective)
screwed
?vulgar slang for having had sexual intercourse
taken advantage of
?in a crude, sexual sense
📝 In Action
¡Ese tipo está totalmente cogido!
C1That guy is totally screwed/had!
💡 Grammar Points
Regional Taboo
This meaning is a strong taboo and should be avoided entirely by learners in Latin American contexts. It describes a person who has been sexually used.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Cogido' in Latin America
Mistake: "Saying 'He cogido un taxi' (I have caught a taxi) in Mexico."
Correction: Use 'He tomado un taxi' or 'He agarrado un taxi.' Using 'cogido' here will sound extremely inappropriate.
⭐ Usage Tips
Safety First
If you are unsure whether you are in a region where 'coger' is vulgar, assume it is, and use the verb 'tomar' (to take) or 'agarrar' (to grab) instead. This guarantees you will always be polite.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cogido
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cogido' in its neutral, standard Spanish (Spain) meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'cogido' have such different meanings in Spain and Latin America?
The base verb, *coger*, evolved differently. In Spain, it kept its original meaning of 'to grab' or 'to take.' In many parts of Latin America, the verb shifted to become a highly vulgar term for sexual intercourse, making the past participle 'cogido' equally offensive.
Is there a safe alternative for 'cogido' that works everywhere?
Yes. If you mean 'caught' or 'taken,' use 'tomado' (from *tomar*) or 'agarrado' (from *agarrar*). These are neutral and universally understood across the Spanish-speaking world.