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How to Say "collecting" in Spanish

English → Spanish

recogiendo

re-ko-HYEN-dorekoˈxjendo

verbA2general
Use 'recogiendo' when referring to the act of picking up or gathering something or someone, such as retrieving items from a store or collecting children from school.
A person waving and walking toward a car to be picked up by a friend.

Examples

Voy a la tienda a recoger mi paquete.

I'm going to the store to pick up my package.

Estoy recogiendo a los niños del colegio.

I am picking up the kids from school.

Pasa la tarde recogiendo paquetes en la oficina.

He spends the afternoon collecting packages at the office.

The Personal 'A'

When 'recogiendo' refers to picking up a person, you must use 'a' before the person's name or title (e.g., 'recogiendo a María').

coleccionista

ko-lek-syo-nees-tahkoleksjoˈnista

adjectiveB2general
Use 'coleccionista' to describe someone's hobby or strong inclination towards gathering and keeping specific types of items, like stamps or coins.
A child wearing a sun hat and holding a magnifying glass, looking for unique rocks to put in a small wooden box.

Examples

Mi abuelo tiene un interés coleccionista por los sellos antiguos.

My grandfather has a collecting interest in old stamps.

Tiene un espíritu coleccionista muy fuerte.

He has a very strong collecting spirit.

Su afán coleccionista lo llevó a viajar por todo el país.

His passion for collecting led him to travel all over the country.

Describing Things

As an adjective, this word describes a passion or a spirit. Like the noun, the form stays 'coleccionista' regardless of the object's gender.

Collecting Items vs. Picking Up People

The most common mistake is using 'coleccionista' when you mean the action of picking something up. Remember, 'coleccionista' describes a hobby of gathering, while 'recogiendo' is the active process of retrieving or collecting something or someone.

Related Translations

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