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"Pick up" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "recoger", and "take up" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "levantar". Learn more about the difference between "pick up" and "take up" 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.
take up(
teyk
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 remove)
a. levantar
The road crew is taking up the stones in preparation for paving with cement.El equipo de carretera está levantando las piedras en preparación para la pavimentación con cemento.
2. (to pick up)
a. agarrar (Latin America)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
Berta took up the rifle and began to shoot.Berta agarró el rifle y comenzó a disparar.
3. (to shorten)
4. (to absorb)
a. absorber
These cleaning cloths I bought quickly take up spills.Los trapos para limpiar que compré absorben los derrames rápidemente.
5. (to lead)
a. llevar arriba
Oscar took the priest up to see the patient.Oscar llevó al sacerdote arriba para ver al paciente.
6. (to carry)
8. (to occupy)
a. ocupar
Paula has no time for a social life because her work takes up all her time.Paula no tiene tiempo para una vida social porque el trabajo ocupa todo su tiempo.
b. absorber
Taking care of her 15 children takes up all her energy.Cuidando a sus 15 hijos absorbe toda su energía.
c. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
All of his attention is taken up by his legal battle.Toda su atención está dedicada a su batalla legal.
His new hobby takes up a lot of his time.Le dedica mucho tiempo a su nuevo pasatiempo.
9. (to start)
a. empezar a hacer
Patricia took up gardening when she moved to the countryside.Patricia empezó a hacer jardinería cuando se mudó al campo.
b. asumir
Harry will take up his duties as consul in Islamabad in two weeks.Harry asumirá el cargo de cónsul en Islamabad en dos semanas.
c. dedicarse a
Miguel decided to take up a career in law after what happened to his mother.Miguel decidió dedicarse al derecho después de lo sucedido a su mamá.
d. emprender
After attending college, Nostradamus took up a career in medicine.Después de asistir a la universidad, Nostradamus emprendió su carrera médica.
10. (to continue)
a. continuar
The second episode takes up where the first leaves off.El segundo episodio continua donde el primero termina.
b. retomar
After a short break, the professor took up the topic he had introduced earlier on.Después de un breve descanso, el profesor retomó el tema que había presentado anteriormente.
c. volver sobre
Orlando took up what Francisco was saying and expounded on it.Orlando volvió sobre lo que decía Francisco y lo profundizó.
11. (to adopt)
a. hacer suyo
Maurice took up the cause of stopping global warming 50 years ago.Maurice hizo suya la causa de detener el calentamiento global hace 50 años.
a. aceptar
Do we have a deal? -Yes, I'll take you up on your offer.¿Tenemos un trato? - Sí, acepto tu oferta.
a. mencionar a
I'm going to have to take this matter up with your father.Voy a tener que mencionar este asunto a tu padre.
b. tratar con
Sir, I was told to take up the issue with you.Señor, me dijeron que tratara el asunto con usted.
c. abordar con
Ok, so who's going to take this up with the director?Bueno, ¿quién va a abordar el tema con el director?
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.).
a. juntarse
Lou broke up with Imelda, and two weeks later he took up with Dana.Lou rompió con Imelda y dos semanas más tarde se juntó con Dana.
