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"Coger" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to take", and "tocar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to touch". Learn more about the difference between "coger" and "tocar" below.
coger(
koh
-
hehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
b. to grab
Cogió la pelota que salió fuera de la cancha.He grabbed the ball that went off the field.
c. to get
¿Puedes coger el teléfono que está sonando en la sala?Can you get the telephone that is ringing in the living room?
d. to pick up
Por favor, coge al niño, el suelo está sucio.Please, pick up the baby, the floor is dirty.
2. (to select)
a. to pick
De todos los trozos, cogió el más grande.From all the pieces, she picked the biggest one.
a. to catch
Vas a coger un resfriado si no te abrigas bien.You'll catch a cold if you don't wrap up well.
a. to get into
Cogieron la costumbre de venir a visitarnos todos los días.They got into the habit of visiting us every day.
9. (to gather)
a. to pick
¿Dónde cogiste esas flores silvestres tan bonitas? - Son del jardín.Where did you pick such lovely wildflowers? - They're from the garden.
10. (vulgar) (to have sex) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
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.).
11. (to be located)
12. (vulgar) (to have sex) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. to take
Coge por la calle Rojas. Hay menos semáforos.Take Rojas Street. There are fewer stoplights.
cogerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
14. (to grab)
15. (to hold)
a. to hold on to
Cógete fuerte de la cuerda en el descenso. Hold on to the rope tightly during your descent.
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
16. (to get stuck)
tocar(
toh
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to feel)
a. to touch
Puedes saber si tu bebé tiene fiebre tocando su frente.You can tell if your baby has a fever by touching her forehead.
5. (to broach)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to chime)
a. to ring
Las campanas de la iglesia tocan todos los domingos para llamar a los fieles a misa.The church bells ring every Sunday to call the faithful to mass.
9. (to tap)
a. to knock
Ana, alguien está tocando a la puerta. ¿Puedes ir a ver quién es, por favor? Yo estoy en la ducha.Ana, there's someone knocking at the door. Can you please go see who it is? I'm in the shower.
10. (to secure)
a. to win
No te lo vas a creer, pero nos ha tocado la lotería.You won't believe it, but we've won the lottery.
a. to be someone's turn
¿Quién va a lavar los platos? - Te toca a ti.Who's going to do the dishes? - It's your turn.
12. (to need to)
a. to have to
Mañana toca hacer la declaración de la renta. ¡Lo odio!I have to do my tax return tomorrow. I hate it!
tocarse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to touch each other
Solo nos tocamos para estrecharnos la mano.We don't touch each other unless it's to shake hands.
