cógelo
/KOH-heh-loh/
Take it
When you need someone to grasp or pick up an object, you might use the command 'cógelo'.
cógelo(Verb (Compound Command))
Take it
?To grasp or pick up something
,Grab it
?To quickly seize something
Catch it
?To intercept a thrown object (Spain)
📝 In Action
Aquí tienes la llave, cógelo antes de salir.
A1Here is the key (masc. noun), take it before you leave.
Si el perro tira la pelota, cógelo y guárdalo.
A2If the dog throws the ball, catch it and put it away.
El libro está en la mesa, cógelo si lo necesitas.
A1The book is on the table, grab it if you need it.
💡 Grammar Points
Command + Pronoun
When you tell someone to do something (a command), you stick the pronoun ('lo' = it) onto the end of the verb. If the command has only one syllable, the accent mark is not needed. If it has two or more syllables, like 'coge', you must add an accent mark ('cóge') to keep the stress on the correct vowel.
Masculine 'It'
'Lo' means 'it' when referring to a masculine noun (like 'el libro') or an abstract idea. If you were referring to a feminine noun (like 'la manzana'), you would say 'cógeLA'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Pronoun Placement
Mistake: "Lo coge."
Correction: Cógelo.
⭐ Usage Tips
Listen to the Accent
The accent mark on the 'o' is crucial! It tells you to stress the 'co' syllable: CÓ-ge-lo. Without the accent, it would be pronounced co-GE-lo, which is incorrect.
Used vulgarly, 'cógelo' can express intense frustration or utter disregard for a situation, similar to saying 'F*** it'.
cógelo(Verb (Compound Command))
F*** it
?Vulgar command, referring to sexual intercourse or a general intensification of frustration/disregard.
Screw it
?Highly informal and aggressive dismissal of a situation.
📝 In Action
¡Cógelo! (Context: A very angry person dismissing a problem.)
C2F*** it! / Screw it!
Si el carro no arranca, que el mecánico cógelo.
C2If the car won't start, let the mechanic fix it (sexual connotation). (Note: This is grammatically awkward but illustrates the meaning.)
💡 Grammar Points
The Danger of Coger
The verb 'coger' has a completely different, highly vulgar meaning in most of Latin America compared to Spain. Even if you mean 'take it,' using 'cógelo' in these regions will be understood as a crude sexual command.
⭐ Usage Tips
The Golden Rule
If you are speaking Spanish outside of Spain, always use 'tomar' or 'agarrar' instead of 'coger' for the meaning 'to take' or 'to grab.' Use 'coger' only in Spain.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cógelo
Question 1 of 2
If you are in Mexico and want to ask someone to grab a book (el libro), which phrase should you use?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'cógelo' have an accent mark when the base verb 'coge' does not?
The accent mark is needed because when you attach a pronoun ('lo') to the command, the word gets longer. Spanish stress rules say the stress should fall on the second-to-last syllable, but we need the stress to stay on the original syllable, so we use the accent mark to override the rule and keep the stress on the 'o' (CÓ-ge-lo).
If 'coger' is safe in Spain, why did it become vulgar in Latin America?
Linguists believe that in some Latin American regions, the meaning of 'coger' shifted due to influence from indigenous languages or local slang, evolving the sense of 'grasp/seize' into a vulgar reference for sexual intercourse. This change is very widespread, making it a crucial regional difference to learn.