A simple illustration showing a hand selecting a single red apple from a group of three colorful apples (red, green, and yellow) resting on a wooden table.

escoger

es-koh-HEHR

verbA1regular (-er verb) with a spelling change in the 'yo' form er

to choose?making a selection,to select?picking from a group

Also:to pick out?identifying something specific

Quick Reference

infinitiveescoger

gerundescogiendo

past Participleescogido

📝 In Action

Tienes que escoger un regalo para tu madre.

You have to choose a gift for your mother.

Yo siempre escojo el camino más fácil.

I always choose the easiest path.

¿Qué carrera universitaria escogiste?

What university major did you choose?

Word Connections

Synonyms

elegir (to choose (often more formal))
seleccionar (to select)
optar (to opt for)

Antonyms

rechazar (to reject)
desechar (to discard)

Common Collocations

escoger bien – to choose wisely
escoger una opción – to pick an option

💡 Grammar Points

The 'Yo' Form Exception

In the present tense, when you say 'I choose,' the 'g' changes to a 'j': 'Yo escojo.' This spelling change keeps the sound strong and consistent.

Subjunctive Alert

Because the 'yo' form is 'escojo,' all forms of the present subjunctive use the 'j' (e.g., 'que tú escojas').

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting the 'J'

Mistake: "Yo escoGo."

Correction: Yo escoJo. Remember that 'G' sound before an 'O' or 'A' changes to 'J' in many verbs ending in -ger or -gir.

⭐ Usage Tips

Interchangeable with Elegir

While 'elegir' also means 'to choose,' 'escoger' is slightly more common for everyday, simple choices, like picking what to eat or wear.

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedescoge

yoescojo

túescoges

ellos/ellas/ustedesescogen

nosotrosescogemos

vosotrosescogéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedescogía

yoescogía

túescogías

ellos/ellas/ustedesescogían

nosotrosescogíamos

vosotrosescogíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedescogió

yoescogí

túescogiste

ellos/ellas/ustedesescogieron

nosotrosescogimos

vosotrosescogisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedescoja

yoescoja

túescojas

ellos/ellas/ustedesescojan

nosotrosescojamos

vosotrosescojáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedescogiera/escogiese

yoescogiera/escogiese

túescogieras/escogieses

ellos/ellas/ustedesescogieran/escogiesen

nosotrosescogiéramos/escogiésemos

vosotrosescogierais/escogieseis

View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: escoger

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the 'yo' form of 'escoger'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

elección(choice, election) - noun

escogido(chosen, selected (adjective)) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'escoger' the same as 'elegir'?

They both mean 'to choose' and are often interchangeable. 'Escoger' is slightly more common for simple, everyday selections, while 'elegir' can sometimes sound a bit more formal or be used for elections and important life decisions.

Why does 'escoger' change spelling in the present tense 'yo' form?

This is a common pattern in Spanish verbs ending in -ger. The 'g' changes to a 'j' before the letter 'o' (escojo) to ensure the sound remains the same hard 'h' sound (like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch') that the verb usually has.