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"Cobrar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to charge for", and "retirar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to remove". Learn more about the difference between "cobrar" and "retirar" below.
cobrar(
koh
-
brahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to charge for
¿A cuánto cobran el corte de cabello en ese salón?How much do they charge for a haircut in that salon?
b. to collect
Ojalá ya tengas el dinero, porque mañana vienen a cobrártelo.I hope you already have the money, because tomorrow they're coming to collect it.
3. (to acquire)
a. to fetch
El husky de mis vecinos cobra las pelotas del campo de béisbol.My neighbor's husky fetches balls from the baseball field.
6. (decision by a referee) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to call (United States)
Regionalism used in the United States
Perdimos porque el árbitro no cobró dos penales.We lost because the referee didn't call two penalties.
b. to call for
El director técnico le pidió al árbitro que cobrara saque de banda y anulara el gol.The coach asked the referee to call for a foul throw-in and disallow the goal.
c. to blow for (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
El árbitro cobró un penal pero el línea no estuvo de acuerdo.The referee blew for a penalty but the linesman disagreed.
7. (to take a shot) (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
10. (colloquial) (to get a beating)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to pay
Cuando te atrape, vas a cobrar por romperme el celular.When I catch you, you're going to pay for breaking my cell phone.
cobrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
retirar(
rreh
-
tee
-
rahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to remove
Retire la pegatina con cuidado.Remove the sticker carefully.
En estos momentos la grúa está retirando el vehículo accidentado de la carretera.Right now the tow truck is removing the damaged vehicle from the roadway.
b. to take away
Retiraron las mesas para echarnos de la terraza.They took away the tables to get us to leave the terrace area.
a. to take away
Retira la tarta antes de que la vea el cumpleañero.Can you take the cake away before the birthday boy sees it?
b. to remove
Te aconsejo que retires todos los objetos de valor antes de abrir la casa al público .I'd advise you to remove all your valuables before you open the house to the public.
a. to withdraw (troops, ambassador)
El coronel cree que fue un error retirar las tropas de la región.The colonel believes that it was an error to withdraw the troops from the region.
b. to recall (ambassador, envoy)
Retiraron a su embajador en Londres como protesta.They recalled their ambassador to London as a protest.
a. to withdraw
Las autoridades le retiraron el pasaporte a Alicia.The authorities withdrew Alicia's passport.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Mi marido nunca me retiró la confianza.My husband never lost confidence in me.
El partido le retiró la confianza al presidente cuando malversó fondos.The president lost the party's confidence when he misappropriated funds.
5. (to retract)
a. to withdraw
Adela retiró la mano y miró a Rogelio horrorizada.Adela withdrew her hand and looked at Rogelio aghast.
b. to pull away
Mauricio quería besarla, pero Imelda le retiró la cara.Mauricio wanted to kiss ker, but Imelda pulled her face away from him.
a. to force to retire
El Estado retirará a 600 funcionarios este año.The State will force 600 government employees to retire this year.
b. to retire
Juan me explicó que su empresa quiere retirarlo.Juan explained to me that his company wants to retire him.
c. to pension off
Tendrás que callarte si no quieres que te retiren.You'll have to hold your tongue if you don't want to be pensioned off.
8. (finance)
a. to withdraw
Alguien retiró 300 dólares de mi cuenta.Someone withdrew 300 dollars from my account.
a. to collect
¿Vamos a retirar las entradas en taquilla?Shall we collect the tickets from the ticket office?
b. to pick up
Esta tarde, tendré que pasar por la tintorería para retirar el traje de Manuel.I'll need to go to the dry cleaner's this afternoon to pick up Manuel's suit.
a. to withdraw
La empresa retiró los autobuses más antiguos.The company withdrew the oldest buses.
Retiraron los billetes falsos de la circulación.The counterfeit notes were withdrawn from circulation.
retirarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡No se retire, por favor!Please hold!
El recepcionista me pidió que no me retirara.The receptionist asked me to hold the line.
14. (to go to sleep)
a. to go to bed
Me voy a retirar, que mañana madrugo.I'll go to bed now as I have an early start tomorrow.
15. (to go away)
a. to retreat
Los soldados se retiraron a causa de las fuerzas superiores enemigas.The soldiers retreated because of the enemy's superior forces.
a. to pull out
El ciclista se retiró de la carrera a pocos metros de la meta.The cyclist pulled out of the race just a few meters from the finish.
b. to withdraw
Tuve que retirarme del concurso cuando me resfrié.I had to withdraw from the competition when I caught a cold.
a. to take oneself off
El chamán se retiró a lo más profundo de la selva en busca de sí mismo.The shaman took himself off to the depths of the jungle to find himself.
b. to go away
Cansada de la ciudad, se retiró a un sitio alejado de la Patagonia.Tired of the city, she went away to an isolated spot in Patagonia.
c. to retire
Alfredo se decidió a retirarse a un monasterio para meditar.Alfredo decided to retire to a monastery to meditate.
