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"Colocar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to place", and "recoger" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to pick up". Learn more about the difference between "colocar" and "recoger" below.
colocar(
koh
-
loh
-
kahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to arrange)
d. to put up
Cuando mi perro se perdió coloqué carteles en todas partes.When my dog got lost, I put up signs everywhere.
e. to hang
¿Por qué no colocamos el cuadro de Van Gogh en la pared del comedor?Why don't we hang the Van Gogh painting on the dining room wall?
f. to position
Claudia colocó todos sus muñecos sobre la cama.Claudia positioned all her dolls on the bed.
2. (finance)
a. to place
Mark decidió colocar una fuerte suma de dinero en bienes raíces.Mark decided to place a large amount of money in real estate.
b. to invest
Si su perfil de riesgo es conservador, coloque su dinero en un fondo mutuo de renta fija.If your risk profile is conservative, invest your money in a fixed-income mutual fund.
a. to place
¿Cómo hizo Marta para colocar a su sobrino en la empresa de Luis?How did Marta manage to place her nephew at Luis's company?
b. to find a job for
Guillermo colocó a su hijo en el gobierno.Guillermo found a job for his son in the government.
c. to get a job for
Alonso colocó a su primo como chofer de Uber.Alonso got a job for his cousin as an Uber driver.
4. (old-fashioned) (to find a spouse for)
A word or phrase that is seldom used in contemporary language and is recognized as being from another decade, (e.g., cat, groovy).
a. to marry off
Mi vecino ya colocó a su hija mayor pero le quedan tres más.My neighbor already married off his eldest daughter, but he's got three more left.
a. to palm off on (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Mis compañeros de equipo querían colocarme la responsabilidad de lo que salió mal.My teammates wanted to palm off the responsibility of what went wrong on me.
6. (commerce)
a. to place
La empresa espera colocar este producto en el mercado internacional el año entrante.The company is hoping to place this product on the international market next year.
7. (colloquial) (to intoxicate)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get high (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Esta pastilla te colocará, amigo.This pill will get you high, buddy.
colocarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to get a job
Fernando está tratando de colocarse como médico en el hospital general.Fernando is trying to get a job as a doctor at the general hospital.
10. (to apply)
a. to put on
¿Me enseñas a colocarme las pestañas postizas?Can you show me how to put on fake eyelashes?
11. (colloquial) (to get drunk)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get plastered (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Todos nos colocamos en la fiesta de Alicia.All of us got plastered at Alicia's party.
12. (colloquial) (to get stoned)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to get high (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Amy y Tina se están comportando raro. - No me extraña. Se colocaron antes de la clase.Amy and Tina are acting weird. - That doesn't surprise me. They got high before class.
recoger(
rreh
-
koh
-
hehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to lift up)
a. to pick up
Tuve que recoger todas las canicas que se cayeron al suelo.I had to pick up all the marbles that fell on the floor.
2. (to collect)
a. to gather
Es importante recoger toda la información necesaria.It is important to gather all the necessary information.
a. to clean up
Tenemos que recoger la cocina antes de la fiesta.We have to clean up the kitchen before the party.
4. (to fetch)
a. to pick up
¿Puedes venir a recogerme al aeropuerto el próximo domingo?Would you be able to pick me up at the airport next Sunday?
6. (to harvest)
a. to pick
¿Cuándo es el mejor momento para recoger fresas?When is the best time to pick strawberries?
7. (to contain)
a. to include
El documental recoge el testimonio de personas que fueron testigo de aquel escalofriante suceso.The documentary includes the testimony of people who witnessed that horrifying incident.
recogerse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to go to bed
"Yo siempre me recojo muy temprano," dijo mi abuela y soltó un bostezo."I always go to bed very early," said my grandmother and she yawned.
10. (religion)
a. to withdraw
Cuando se quedó viuda, la condesa se recogió en un convento.The countess withdrew to a convent when she became a widow.
b. to retire
Después del desayuno, los monjes se recogen para meditar.After breakfast, the monks retire to meditate.
11. (clothing)
a. to lift up (skirt)
La muchacha se recogió la falda y metió los pies en el río.The girl lifted up her skirt and put her feet in the river.
b. to roll up (pants, sleeves)
Recógete las mangas de la camisa o te las mancharás de grasa.Roll up your shirt sleeves or you'll get them stained with grease.
