Inklingo

How to Say "to gather" in Spanish

English → Spanish

reunirse

rreh-oo-NEER-seh/reuˈniɾse/

verbA2general
Use this when people are coming together for a meeting or social event.
A high quality storybook illustration showing two stylized figures, one in a blue shirt and one in a red shirt, standing face-to-face and shaking hands firmly.

Examples

Nos reuniremos en el café a las tres.

We will meet at the cafe at three o'clock.

Siempre se reúnen para celebrar el Año Nuevo.

They always gather to celebrate New Year's.

¿Cuándo te vas a reunir con el jefe?

When are you going to meet with the boss?

The Reflexive Action

The '-se' at the end means the action reflects back onto the subject. If you use the verb 'reunir' (without -se), it means 'to gather something else,' but 'reunirse' means 'to gather yourselves together.'

The Special Accent

In the present tense (like 'yo me reúno'), the accent over the 'u' is essential. It forces the 'u' and 'i' to be pronounced separately (re-Ú-no), not as a quick glide.

Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun

Mistake: “Yo reúno con mi familia.”

Correction: Yo ME reúno con mi familia. (You must include 'me, te, se, nos, os, se' before the verb, depending on who is meeting.)

recoger

reh-koh-HER/reˈko.xeɾ/

verbA1general
Use this when you are collecting or picking up scattered items, often from a surface or the floor.
A child bending down to pick up a bright red toy block from a wooden floor.

Examples

Por favor, recoge los juguetes antes de la cena.

Please pick up the toys before dinner.

Recogimos fresas en el campo esta mañana.

We gathered strawberries in the field this morning.

Spelling Change (G to J)

In the 'yo' form of the present tense ('recojo') and throughout the special wish/command forms (subjunctive), the 'g' changes to a 'j' to keep the consistent 'kh' sound.

juntar

/hoon-TAR//xunˈtaɾ/

verbA1general
Use this when physically bringing two or more items together to form a single unit or pile.
Two wooden puzzle pieces being pushed together to fit perfectly.

Examples

Tienes que juntar las dos piezas para arreglarlo.

You have to join the two pieces to fix it.

Por favor, junta tus juguetes antes de dormir.

Please, put your toys together before going to sleep.

Juntamos todas las sillas en el centro de la sala.

We gathered all the chairs in the center of the room.

Using 'juntar' with objects

Use this word when you are physically moving objects into the same place or making them touch.

Juntar vs. Unir

Mistake: “Using 'unir' for picking up toys.”

Correction: Use 'juntar' for gathering items; 'unir' often implies a permanent bond or a deeper connection, like 'unir fuerzas' (joining forces).

reunir

rreh-oo-NEER/re.uˈniɾ/

verbB1general
Use this when a leader or organizer brings people or things together in one place, often for a specific purpose.
A happy child kneeling down, gathering several brightly colored wooden blocks and putting them into a single open basket.

Examples

El director reunió a todos los empleados en la sala de conferencias.

The director gathered all the employees in the conference room.

Necesito reunir más información antes de tomar una decisión.

I need to collect more information before making a decision.

The Accent Mark Irregularity

In the present tense, you must place an accent mark over the 'u' (reúno, reúnes, etc.). This breaks the 'u' and 'i' apart, making two distinct syllables instead of one blended sound.

Missing the Accent

Mistake: “Yo reuno”

Correction: Yo reúno. If you omit the accent, it changes the stress and sounds unnatural.

encontrarse

en-kohn-TRAR-seh/enkonˈtɾaɾse/

verbB1general
Use this when people are meeting up with each other at a pre-arranged time and place.
An illustration showing two friendly people standing face-to-face, smiling, and shaking hands warmly in a park setting, signifying a reciprocal meeting.

Examples

Nos encontramos en la cafetería a las 3:00 p.m.

We are meeting (each other) at the cafeteria at 3:00 p.m.

Ayer se encontraron con su viejo profesor en el supermercado.

Yesterday they ran into their old professor at the supermarket.

Espero encontrarme contigo pronto.

I hope to meet up with you soon.

Reciprocal Action

When used in the plural (nosotros, ellos), 'encontrarse' usually means 'to meet each other'. The reciprocal pronoun (nos, se) shows that the action goes both ways.

Using 'encontrar' instead of 'encontrarse'

Mistake: “Vamos a encontrar en el cine. (We are going to find in the cinema.)”

Correction: Vamos a encontrarnos en el cine. (We are going to meet in the cinema.) 'Encontrar' means 'to find a thing', while 'encontrarse' means 'to meet a person' or 'to be located'.

People vs. Things

A common mistake is using verbs meant for collecting objects (like 'recoger' or 'juntar') when you mean people meeting up. Remember, 'reunirse' and 'encontrarse' are specifically for people coming together.

Related Translations

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