recoger
“recoger” means “to pick up” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
to pick up, to gather
Also: to harvest
📝 In Action
Por favor, recoge los juguetes antes de la cena.
A1Please pick up the toys before dinner.
Recogimos fresas en el campo esta mañana.
A2We gathered strawberries in the field this morning.
to pick up, to fetch
Also: to meet
📝 In Action
¿Puedes recogerme en el aeropuerto mañana?
A2Can you pick me up at the airport tomorrow?
Mi padre siempre me recoge de la escuela.
A2My father always picks me up from school.
to tidy up, to clear away
Also: to put away
📝 In Action
Necesitas recoger tu cuarto antes de salir.
B1You need to tidy up your room before leaving.
Después de la fiesta, ayudamos a recoger la casa.
B1After the party, we helped clear away/tidy the house.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: recoger
Question 1 of 2
Which English translation is NOT a primary meaning of 'recoger'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 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)
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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).