How do you say "to pick"?
I was talking with my brother and told his girlfriend to pick fruit, and then asked how to say this in spanish. She said something that started with a "T", but I couldn't quite understand it. I'm confused because I know recoger means to pick in spanish, but barely realized that "coger" is the root of recoger and I'm wondering if Mexico and parts of Latin America don't use "recoger" because of coger and it's different meanings. Is this true? If anyone is wondering she is from Mexico and uses their vocabulary.
7 Answers
Starting with a 'T' maybe it was "tomar" but it sound sounds very weird for to me. Just guessing.
In addition, Ken-Smith is right. Coger is the most used word here in Spain but I know that in some countries in Central/South America means 'to f**k'. So, be careful.
I also agree with the explanation about the use of recoger. Coger and recoger are not equivalent in Spain. I do not know in other countries.
[Feel free to correct my English. Thank you]
I used to watch a lot of Pokemon and Ash says "Pikachu, I choose you" or "Pikachu, yo te elijo".
I've always used elegir to mean "choose/select".
In Mexico we use "recoger" and "levantar" to say "pick up". example:
Recogí toda mi ropa que estaba en el suelo de mi cuarto.
Levanté toda mi ropa que estaba en el suelo de mi cuarto.
Es un poco mas común aquí usar "recoger".
We don't use "coger" to say "to pick up".
Greetings.
I've read that "coger" isn't recommended as polite language to use for any purpose in Latin America. because it is often used in this hemisphere as the equivalent of a vulgar English word. In Spain it is used to convey the act of seizing or grasping, apparently with no vulgar connotation. I think escoger is the best word to use for "pick" and an alternative might be "eligir" ." I'm not aware that "recoger is considered vulgar, but it conveys the idea of "pick up", as in "se agachó para recoger el papel del suelo." (he bent down to pick up the paper off the ground) so it won't work well to express the idea of picking fruit or vegetables. All of this is "book learning" and I can't verify it by actual experience with native speakers.
In Spain 'recogida de frutas'' is the most commonly used, if you're looking for work in this sector.
Carefully !
