cogí
ko-HEE
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Cogí el libro de la mesa sin permiso.
A1I took the book off the table without permission.
Llegué justo a tiempo y cogí el último autobús.
A2I arrived just in time and caught the last bus.
Después de un rato, por fin cogí la broma.
B1After a while, I finally understood the joke (I caught on to the joke).
💡 Grammar Points
Past Tense Action
As the 'yo' form of the preterite, 'cogí' describes a single action that was completed in the past, like 'I grabbed' or 'I caught.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronunciation Error
Mistake: "Pronouncing the 'g' like an English 'j' sound (as in 'judge')."
Correction: The 'g' in 'cogí' makes a strong, throaty 'h' sound, similar to the 'j' in Spanish: /ko-HEE/.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use in Spain vs. Latin America
In Spain, 'coger' is safe and common for 'to take/grab.' In many Latin American countries (especially Mexico and Argentina), this verb is highly vulgar. Use 'tomar' or 'agarrar' instead to avoid offense.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cogí
Question 1 of 2
If you are in Argentina and say, 'Cogí un taxi,' what is the likely (and offensive) interpretation?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'coger' have two such different meanings?
The core meaning of 'coger' is 'to grasp' or 'to seize.' In Spain, this stayed physical ('to grab a book'). In many parts of Latin America, the meaning evolved into a figurative, slang way of 'seizing' or 'taking' someone sexually, making it highly vulgar.
Is 'cogí' an irregular verb?
It is mostly regular. However, the infinitive 'coger' has a spelling change in the present tense 'yo' form (cojo) and the present subjunctive (coja, cojas, etc.) to keep the soft 'g' sound. The preterite form 'cogí' is regular.