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elijo

eh-LEE-ho/eˈlixo/

“elijo” means “I choose” in Spanish (expressing a current decision).

I choose

Also: I pick, I am choosing
VerbA2irregular (spelling and vowel change) ir
A hand pointing at a bright red apple from a selection of different fruits.
gerundeligiendo
past Participleelegido
infinitiveelegir

📝 In Action

Yo elijo el camino más corto.

A1

I choose the shortest path.

Cada vez que salimos, yo elijo el restaurante.

A2

Every time we go out, I pick the restaurant.

Hoy elijo ser feliz.

B1

Today I choose to be happy.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • escojo (I pick/choose)
  • selecciono (I select)

Antonyms

  • rechazo (I reject)
  • descarto (I discard)

Common Collocations

  • elijo creer – I choose to believe
  • elijo con cuidado – I choose carefully

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedeseligieran
yoeligiera
túeligieras
vosotroseligierais
nosotroseligiéramos
él/ella/ustedeligiera

present

ellos/ellas/ustedeselijan
yoelija
túelijas
vosotroselijáis
nosotroselijamos
él/ella/ustedelija

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedeseligieron
yoelegí
túelegiste
vosotroselegisteis
nosotroselegimos
él/ella/ustedeligió

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedeselegían
yoelegía
túelegías
vosotroselegíais
nosotroselegíamos
él/ella/ustedelegía

present

ellos/ellas/ustedeseligen
yoelijo
túeliges
vosotroselegís
nosotroselegimos
él/ella/ustedelige
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "elijo" in Spanish:

i choose→i pick→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: elijo

Question 1 of 1

How do you say 'I choose the red one' in Spanish?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
elegir(to choose) — Verb
elección(choice / election) — Noun
elegido(chosen) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
hijofijoprolijo
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'eligere', which is a combination of 'ex' (out) and 'legere' (to read or to gather). It literally means 'to gather out' or 'pick out' from a group.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: electFrench: élire

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'elijo' from the verb 'elegir'?

Yes! 'Elijo' is simply the 'I' form of the verb 'elegir' when you are talking about what you are doing right now.

Why isn't it spelled with a 'g'?

If it were spelled 'eligo', it would sound like 'eh-LEE-go' (like the word 'go'). To keep the 'h' sound from 'elegir', we use a 'j' when the word ends in 'o'.