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recoger

reh-koh-HER/reˈko.xeɾ/

to pick up, to gather

Also: to harvest
VerbA1regular (with minor spelling change) er
A child bending down to pick up a bright red toy block from a wooden floor.
infinitiverecoger
gerundrecogiendo
past Participlerecogido

📝 In Action

Por favor, recoge los juguetes antes de la cena.

A1

Please pick up the toys before dinner.

Recogimos fresas en el campo esta mañana.

A2

We gathered strawberries in the field this morning.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Common Collocations

  • recoger la basura – to collect the trash
  • recoger el correo – to collect the mail

to pick up, to fetch

Also: to meet
VerbA2regular (with minor spelling change) er
A bright yellow school bus stopped at a street corner with a friendly driver waving as a student steps onto the bus.

📝 In Action

¿Puedes recogerme en el aeropuerto mañana?

A2

Can you pick me up at the airport tomorrow?

Mi padre siempre me recoge de la escuela.

A2

My father always picks me up from school.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • buscar (to look for, to fetch)

Common Collocations

  • recoger a los niños – to pick up the children

to tidy up, to clear away

Also: to put away
VerbB1regular (with minor spelling change) er
A person happily folding clothes and putting them away in a clean, organized bedroom.

📝 In Action

Necesitas recoger tu cuarto antes de salir.

B1

You need to tidy up your room before leaving.

Después de la fiesta, ayudamos a recoger la casa.

B1

After the party, we helped clear away/tidy the house.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ordenar (to organize)
  • limpiar (to clean)

Common Collocations

  • recoger la mesa – to clear the table

🔄 Conjugations

indicative

present

él/ella/ustedrecoge
yorecojo
túrecoges
ellos/ellas/ustedesrecogen
nosotrosrecogemos
vosotrosrecogéis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedrecogía
yorecogía
túrecogías
ellos/ellas/ustedesrecogían
nosotrosrecogíamos
vosotrosrecogíais

preterite

él/ella/ustedrecogió
yorecogí
túrecogiste
ellos/ellas/ustedesrecogieron
nosotrosrecogimos
vosotrosrecogisteis

subjunctive

present

él/ella/ustedrecoja
yorecoja
túrecojas
ellos/ellas/ustedesrecojan
nosotrosrecojamos
vosotrosrecojáis

imperfect

él/ella/ustedrecogiera
yorecogiera
túrecogieras
ellos/ellas/ustedesrecogieran
nosotrosrecogiéramos
vosotrosrecogierais
View All Tenses & Moods →

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "recoger" in Spanish:

to fetch→to gather→to harvest→to meet→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: recoger

Question 1 of 2

Which English translation is NOT a primary meaning of 'recoger'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
recogida(collection / pick-up (noun)) — Noun
recogedor(dustpan) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Formed by combining the prefix 're-' (meaning again or back) and the verb 'coger' (meaning to take or seize). Essentially, 'to take back' or 'to take up.'

First recorded: Medieval Spanish

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: recolherCatalan: recollir

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'recoger' used for picking up the phone?

No. While 'recoger' means to pick up objects from the ground, for answering the phone, Spanish speakers typically use 'coger el teléfono' (to take the phone) or 'contestar el teléfono' (to answer the phone).

What is the difference between 'recoger' and 'juntar'?

'Recoger' specifically implies bringing something up or back (like picking up keys you dropped). 'Juntar' means to bring things or people together, often horizontally, like 'juntar dinero' (to save money) or 'juntar a la familia' (to gather the family).