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"Pick up" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "recoger", and "collect" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "juntar". Learn more about the difference between "pick up" and "collect" below.
pick up(
pihk
uhp
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
1. (to collect)
a. recoger
Can you pick up your suit from the dry cleaner?¿Puedes recoger tu traje de la tintorería?
I'll pick Mom up from the airport.Yo recojo a mamá del aeropuerto.
c. pasar a buscar
If you need a ride, I can pick you up.Si necesitas un aventón, puedo pasarte a buscar.
3. (to answer)
4. (to learn)
b. agarrar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
It was easy for her to pick up knitting.Le fue fácil agarrar el tejido.
5. (to arrest)
a. detener
The thief was hiding nearby until the police came and picked him up.El ladrón estaba escondiendo por aquí cerca hasta que vino la policía y lo detuvo.
b. agarrar
After a massive search, they finally picked up the criminals.Tras una búsqueda exhaustiva, finalmente agarraron a los criminales.
b. agarrar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
My computer doesn't pick up your Wi-Fi.Mi computadora no agarra tu red inalámbrica.
7. (to restart)
a. retomar
Can we pick up the conversation where we left off?¿Podemos retomar la conversación donde nos quedamos?
8. (illness)
a. pillar
You're more likely to pick up that disease in hot places.Es más probable que pilles la enfermedad en lugares calurosos.
10. (colloquial) (to seduce)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. ligar con (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
He picked up a girl at the bar last night.Ligó con una chica en el bar anoche.
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
11. (to improve)
12. (to strengthen)
a. levantarse
The wind's picking up; it's going to be a rough crossing.El viento se levanta; la travesía será dura.
a. contestar
I tried ringing my aunt several times, but she didn't pick up.Traté varias veces de llamar a mi tía, pero no contestó.
14. (to continue)
a. continuar
I found it impossible to pick up where I was before the interruption; I was too upset.Me fue imposible continuar por donde iba antes de la interrupción; estaba muy alterado.
collect(
kuh
-
lehkt
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. juntar
I need more time to collect signatures.Necesito más tiempo para juntar firmas.
The library is collecting used books for the book sale.La biblioteca está juntando libros usados para la venta de libros.
b. recaudar
The kids are collecting money for a good cause.Los niños recaudan dinero para una buena causa.
c. recopilar
We have collected the required data for the project.Hemos recopilado los datos necesarios para el proyecto.
3. (to fetch)
4. (to obtain)
a. cobrar (debts, rent)
The company has hired an agency to collect its debts.La empresa ha contratado los servicios de una agencia para cobrar sus deudas.
a. poner en orden
We needed time to collect our thoughts after such shocking news.Tras una noticia tan espeluznante, nececitábamos tiempo para poner en orden nuestras ideas.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
7. (to gather)
a. acumularse (dust, water)
We need to prevent water collecting on the flat roof.Hay que impedir que se acumule agua sobre el techo plano.
b. hacer una colecta
I'm collecting to buy a going-away present for Andy.Estoy haciendo una colecta para comprar un regalo de despedida para Andy.
a. recobrar la compostura
Once she had collected herself, I made her tell me what had happened.Una vez que había recobrado la compostura, le hice contarme lo que había pasado.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. a cobro revertido
The operator asked me if I would accept a collect call.El operador me preguntó si aceptaba una llamada a cobro revertido.
An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
a. a cobro revertido
I had to call my mom collect because I ran out of money.Tuve que llamar a mi mamá a cobro revertido porque me quedé sin dinero.
