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"Pick up" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "recoger", and "get" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "conseguir". Learn more about the difference between "pick up" and "get" 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.
get(
geht
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to obtain)
a. comprar
Don't forget to get milk when you go to the grocery store.No olvides de comprar leche cuando vayas al supermercado.
3. (to receive)
a. recibir
I didn't get any notification that my package arrived.No recibí ninguna notificación de que había llegado mi paquete.
4. (to fetch)
a. tener
She collects antique cars and has got three of them.Ella colecciona carros antiguos y tiene tres.
8. (to annoy)
a. echar
He got five years for insider trading.Le echaron cinco años por tráfico de información privilegiada.
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I got such a fright that I wasn't able to get much sleep!¡Me pegué tal susto que no pude dormir mucho!
I think he got the wrong idea.Creo que se llevó la idea equivocada.
13. (to be paid)
14. (to suffer)
16. (to score)
18. (to answer)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. tener la oportunidad
My mother was very intelligent, but she didn't get to go to university.Mi madre era muy inteligente, pero no tuvo la oportunidad de ir a la universidad.
23. (to arrive)
24. (to become)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Don't get mad at me.No te enfades conmigo.
We should start thinking about dinner. It's getting very late.Deberíamos empezar a pensar en la cena. Se está haciendo muy tarde.
