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"Coger" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to take", and "traer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to bring". Learn more about the difference between "coger" and "traer" below.
coger(
koh
-
hehr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to take
¿Puedo coger otra galleta?May I take another cookie?
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.
e. to hold
Coge bien el cuchillo o te cortarás.Hold the knife properly or you will cut yourself.
a. to pick
De todos los trozos, cogió el más grande.From all the pieces, she picked the biggest one.
a. to get
¿Cogiste el chiste?Did you get the joke?
a. to take
Coja la segunda calle a la derecha.Take the second street on your right.
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.
a. to take
¿Vas a coger el tren o el autobús?Are you taking the train or the bus?
a. to borrow
¿Puedo cogerte el lápiz un momento?May I borrow your pencil for a second?
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.
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
(vulgar)
(to have sex)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a. to fuck
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
(vulgar)
¿A poco la cogiste?Did you really fuck her?
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to be
El restaurante coge cerca de aquí.The restaurant is near here.
12.
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
(vulgar)
(to have sex)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a. to fuck
A word or phrase that is crude, indecent, and generally rejected by society.
(vulgar)
Cogieron en el cine.They fucked in the movie theater.
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.).
pronominal verb
a. to grab
Cógete unas galletas y cómetelas en el coche.Grab some cookies and eat them in the car.
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.).
reflexive verb
a. to catch
Se cogió los dedos en la ventana.She caught her fingers in the window.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.
traer(
trah
-
ehr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to bring
Tráeme las llaves, por favor.Bring me the keys, please.
a. to carry
¿Qué traes en esta maleta tan pesada?What are you carrying in that heavy suitcase?
b. to have on
No traigo dinero. ¿Me prestas?I don't have any money on me. Can you lend me some?
a. to wear
La novia trae un vestido blanco largo con encaje delicado.The bride is wearing a long, white dress with delicate lace.
a. to have
Este periódico no trae crucigrama.This newspaper doesn't have a crossword.
a. to bring
La recesión trajo un alto nivel de desempleo.The recession brought a high level of unemployment.
b. to cause
La inundación de las calles trajo muchos problemas de congestión.The flooding of the streets caused serious traffic problems.
a. to make
Me trae preocupada la noticia de la caída de la bolsa.The news of the market crash is making me nervous.
b. to drive (crazy)
¡Ese ruido me trae loco!That noise is driving me crazy!
a. to bring
¿No sabes que hacer eso trae mala suerte?Don't you know that doing that brings bad luck?
8.
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
(to have a problem with)
Regionalism used in Mexico
(Mexico)
a. to be wrong with
Oye, ¿qué traes? - No traigo nada; solo estoy muy cansado.Hey, what's wrong with you? - Nothing's wrong with me; I'm just really tired.
traerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to bring
Me traje dos trajes de baño por si vamos mucho a la playa.I brought two bathing suits in case we go to the beach a lot.
b. to bring along
Tráete el perro cuando vamos al parque.Bring the dog along when we go to the park.
a. to be up to
¿Qué se trae Carlitos? Lleva una sonrisa traviesa.What's Carlitos up to? He has a mischievous grin on his face.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.