cogió
/koh-HEE-oh/
grabbed
The word cogió means 'grabbed', referring to the physical action of taking hold of something.
cogió(verb)
grabbed
?physical action of taking hold
,picked up
?lifting something
took
?taking an item
📝 In Action
Ella cogió el teléfono inmediatamente.
A2She grabbed the phone immediately.
El niño cogió un dulce de la mesa.
A2The boy picked up a piece of candy from the table.
Usted cogió mi paraguas por error, ¿verdad?
B1You took my umbrella by mistake, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Past Action Completed
This form, 'cogió,' is the simple past (preterite) and is used for actions that started and finished at a specific point in the past, like 'He grabbed it yesterday.'
Irregular 'Yo' Form
The base verb 'coger' is irregular only in the 'yo' form of the present tense: 'yo cojo' (I grab). Notice the 'g' changes to a 'j' to keep the sound consistent.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Caution in Latin America
While 'coger' is safe and common in Spain, it has a vulgar meaning in most of Latin America (see Regionalisms). Use 'tomar' or 'agarrar' instead when speaking in Mexico, Central America, and the Southern Cone to avoid offense.
In the context of transportation, cogió means 'caught', as in successfully catching a bus or train.
cogió(verb)
caught
?transportation (bus, train)
,contracted
?illness or disease
got
?colloquial for 'caught'
📝 In Action
Llegó tarde y no cogió el tren de las diez.
B1He arrived late and didn't catch the ten o'clock train.
Ella cogió un resfriado después de la lluvia.
B2She caught a cold after the rain.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Coger' for Sports
Mistake: "Usó 'cogió el balón' para decir 'He caught the ball' in a soccer game."
Correction: Use 'atrapó' or 'paró' instead. 'Coger' is typically for static objects or transport, not fast-moving sports equipment.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cogió
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses a safe substitute for 'cogió' (in the sense of 'grabbed') when speaking in Mexico?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cogió' a regular or irregular verb form?
'Cogió' itself follows the standard pattern for -er verbs in the simple past (preterite) tense, making it regular in this specific form. However, the base verb 'coger' is considered irregular because its 'yo' form in the present tense ('cojo') changes the 'g' to a 'j'.
Why is this word sometimes considered vulgar?
In Spain, 'coger' means 'to grab' or 'to catch' and is completely normal. However, in almost all of Latin America, the verb 'coger' is considered rude or vulgar slang, meaning 'to have sex.' Always use substitutes like 'tomar' (to take) or 'agarrar' (to grab) when in Latin America.