How do you say choose in Spanish?

Choose is elegir or escoger. Both mean the same thing. Elegir is slightly more common in formal writing; escoger is equally valid in speech.

How do you conjugate elegir?

Present tense: yo elijo, tú eliges, él elige, nosotros elegimos, ellos eligen. It has an e→i stem change plus g→j in the yo form.

What is the difference between elegir and escoger?

There is virtually no difference in meaning. Both mean to choose. Some speakers prefer one over the other regionally, but they are interchangeable.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

How to Say Choose in Spanish: Elegir & Escoger

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Elegir · verb · eh-leh-HEER

Choose in Spanish is elegir or escoger — both are used interchangeably in most contexts. Elegir is an irregular e→i stem-changing verb: yo elijo, tú eliges. Escoger has a spelling change (g→j before a/o): yo escojo.

eh-leh-HEER (elegir) · ehs-koh-HEHR (escoger)

No puedo elegir entre los dos; ambos me gustan.

I can't choose between the two; I like them both.

Choose in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for choose, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
elegir	choose	eh-leh-HEER	Default, widely understood
escoger	choose		interchangeable synonym
seleccionar	choose		formal, to select
optar	choose		to opt for

How Native Speakers Use Elegir

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Making a decision

Tienes que elegir una carrera antes de matricularte.

You have to choose a major before enrolling.

Elegir is the most common verb for making choices.

Shopping

Escoge el color que más te guste para las cortinas.

Choose the color you like best for the curtains.

Escoger is fully interchangeable with elegir in everyday speech.

Formal selection

El comité seleccionó al candidato con más experiencia.

The committee chose the candidate with the most experience.

Seleccionar is more formal and implies a structured selection process.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Elegir

Wrong stem change in present

Incorrect: Yo elego lo que quiero.

Correct: Yo elijo lo que quiero.

Elegir has an e→i stem change AND a g→j spelling change in the yo form: elijo, not elego.

Confusing escoger spelling

Incorrect: Yo escogo el rojo.

Correct: Yo escojo el rojo.

Escoger changes g to j before a and o to maintain the soft g sound: escojo, escoja.

Lock in Choose Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Elegir used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using elegir in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear No puedo elegir entre los dos; ambos me gustan. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Choose in Spanish

How do you say choose in Spanish?: Choose is elegir or escoger. Both mean the same thing. Elegir is slightly more common in formal writing; escoger is equally valid in speech.
How do you conjugate elegir?: Present tense: yo elijo, tú eliges, él elige, nosotros elegimos, ellos eligen. It has an e→i stem change plus g→j in the yo form.
What is the difference between elegir and escoger?: There is virtually no difference in meaning. Both mean to choose. Some speakers prefer one over the other regionally, but they are interchangeable.