Inklingo

How to Say "choose!" in Spanish

English → Spanish

elige

/eh-LEE-heh//eˈlixe/

verbA2informal
Use 'elige' when giving an informal command to one person (tú form) to make a selection, often implying a more deliberate or personal choice.
A friendly cartoon rabbit stands between two distinct colorful objects: a large blue star and a large yellow crescent moon. The rabbit is extending one paw and clearly touching the blue star, indicating a selection.

Examples

Mi hermano siempre elige la película más larga.

My brother always chooses the longest movie.

Usted elige qué camino seguir, señor.

You choose which path to follow, sir.

Si no te gusta, ¡elige otra cosa!

If you don't like it, choose something else!

The Dual Role of 'elige'

'Elige' is used for two things: 1) Statements about what he/she/you (formal) does now, like 'Ella elige el azul.' 2) Giving a direct command to a friend (tú), like '¡Elige rápido!'

Stem Change E > I

The base verb 'elegir' is tricky because the 'e' changes to an 'i' in most forms, including 'elige' and 'elijo.' This is a common pattern for many -ir verbs.

Forgetting the 'g' to 'j' change

Mistake: “Yo elego”

Correction: Yo elijo. The 'g' changes to a 'j' before the 'o' to keep the sound consistent (like the English 'h').

Using the wrong imperative

Mistake: “Tú eliges (to command someone)”

Correction: Tú elige. When giving an informal command (tú affirmative), you use the same form as 'él/ella/usted' present tense.

escoge

/es-KOH-heh//esˈkoxe/

verbA1informal
Use 'escoge' as an informal command to one person (tú form) to pick or select something from a group, often implying a simpler or more immediate selection.
A child standing in front of two paths, one leading to a forest and one to a beach, deciding which way to go.

Examples

Escoge una carta, la que quieras.

Pick a card, whichever one you want.

¡Escoge rápido! No tenemos tiempo.

Choose fast! We don't have time.

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!'.

Choosing between 'elige' and 'escoge'

Many learners are unsure which informal command to use. While both are very common, 'escoge' is generally introduced earlier and can feel slightly more direct for simple selections, whereas 'elige' might imply a more considered decision.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.