escoge
/es-KOH-heh/
he/she/it chooses
A person picks out one specific item from a group to show they are choosing.
escoge(verb)
he/she/it chooses
?present tense statement
,you (formal) choose
?present tense statement
picks
?selecting from a group
,selects
?more formal context
📝 In Action
Ella siempre escoge el camino más largo.
A1She always chooses the longer path.
Usted escoge el color de la pintura.
A2You choose the color of the paint.
💡 Grammar Points
The Soft 'G' Sound
In 'escoge', the 'g' sounds like a breathy 'h' because it is followed by the letter 'e'. To keep this sound when the ending changes to an 'o' or 'a', the letter 'g' must change to a 'j' (like in 'escojo').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Escoge' and 'Elije'
Mistake: "Using 'elije' with a 'j' in the present tense."
Correction: Use 'elige' (with a 'g') or 'escoge'. In Spanish, both verbs use a 'g' in this form, even though they sound like a 'j'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Making Suggestions
You can use 'escoge' when you want to be polite but direct with a friend, like saying 'escoge lo que quieras' (pick whatever you want).
Faced with two different paths, the command is to choose one.
📝 In Action
Escoge una carta, la que quieras.
A1Pick a card, whichever one you want.
¡Escoge rápido! No tenemos tiempo.
A1Choose fast! We don't have time.
💡 Grammar Points
Friendly Commands
To give a friendly command to a friend (tú), you usually just use the same form as 'he/she' in the present tense. That's why 'escoge' means both 'he chooses' and 'choose!'.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: escoge
Question 1 of 2
If you want to tell a friend to 'Pick a color', what should you say?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'escoge' formal or informal?
It can be both! If you are telling a friend to do something, it is informal. If you are stating a fact about what a boss or a stranger (usted) is doing, it is used in a formal context.
Why does the spelling change to a 'j' in other forms?
In Spanish, the letter 'g' sounds soft (like an 'h') before 'e' or 'i', but hard (like 'go') before 'a' or 'o'. To keep the soft 'h' sound in words like 'escojo' (I choose), we have to switch the 'g' to a 'j'.