Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
To Pick Up in Spanish: Recoger
Recoger · verb · reh-koh-HEHR
The English phrasal verb 'to pick up' most commonly translates to 'recoger' in Spanish, covering meanings like collecting items, tidying up, and fetching someone. 'Levantar' is used when physically lifting something off the ground, while 'buscar' can mean picking someone up by going to get them.
reh-koh-HEHR
Voy a recoger a los niños de la escuela a las tres.
I am going to pick up the kids from school at three.
To Pick Up in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for to pick up, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| recoger | to pick up | reh-koh-HEHR | Default, widely understood |
| levantar | to pick up | lifting something from the ground | |
| buscar | to pick up | picking someone up, as in giving a ride |
How Native Speakers Use Recoger
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Collecting a person
¿Puedes recogerme en el aeropuerto mañana por la noche?
Can you pick me up at the airport tomorrow night?
Asking someone to come get you from a location.
Tidying up
Recoge tus juguetes antes de cenar.
Pick up your toys before dinner.
A parent telling a child to tidy their belongings.
Lifting an object
Levantó la moneda del suelo sin agacharse.
He picked up the coin from the floor without bending down.
Physical action of lifting something small.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Recoger
Wrong verb choice
Incorrect: Voy a levantar a mi amigo del aeropuerto.
Correct: Voy a recoger a mi amigo del aeropuerto.
'Levantar' implies physically lifting someone, which would sound like you are literally hoisting your friend. Use 'recoger' or 'buscar' when fetching a person from a location.
Spelling change ignored
Incorrect: Yo recogí—wait, yo recogo los libros.
Correct: Yo recojo los libros.
'Recoger' has a spelling change in the first person present: the 'g' becomes 'j' before 'o' to preserve the soft 'h' sound. So it is 'recojo,' not 'recogo.'
Lock in To Pick Up 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 Recoger used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using recoger in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Voy a recoger a los niños de la escuela a las tres. 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 To Pick Up in Spanish
- How do you say 'to pick up' in Spanish?
- The primary translation is 'recoger,' which covers most senses of 'pick up'—collecting items, fetching someone, and tidying. When you mean physically lifting something heavy off the ground, 'levantar' is more precise.
- Can 'recoger' mean to pick someone up for a date?
- In many Latin American countries, 'recoger' is used when picking someone up for any occasion, including a date. However, 'pasar por' (to swing by for) is sometimes preferred because it sounds less formal and more natural in romantic contexts.
- Does 'recoger' have irregular conjugations?
- 'Recoger' is mostly regular, but it has a spelling change: the 'g' shifts to 'j' before the vowels 'a' and 'o' (e.g., yo recojo). This change preserves the soft consonant sound and is a common pattern in -ger verbs.