elige
“elige” means “chooses” in Spanish (He/She/It chooses (statement)).
chooses, selects
Also: Choose!, picks out
📝 In Action
Mi hermano siempre elige la película más larga.
A2My brother always chooses the longest movie.
Usted elige qué camino seguir, señor.
B1You choose which path to follow, sir.
Si no te gusta, ¡elige otra cosa!
A2If you don't like it, choose something else!
¿Qué postre elige el chef hoy?
B1Which dessert is the chef choosing today?
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: elige
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'elige' as a command?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin verb *eligere*, meaning 'to pick out' or 'to choose,' which itself combined the prefix *ex-* (out of) and *legere* (to gather or select). The meaning has remained consistent for centuries.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'elegir' and 'escoger'?
They mean essentially the same thing ('to choose' or 'to select'). 'Elegir' is slightly more formal and often used for important choices (like elections), while 'escoger' is very common for everyday, simple choices (like choosing an apple).
Why does 'elige' have two different meanings ('he chooses' and 'Choose!')?
In Spanish, the informal command form ('tú' imperative) for many verbs is identical to the 'él/ella/usted' form of the present tense. Context usually makes it clear whether you are stating a fact or giving an order.