cobrar
transitive verb
1 (pedir como pago) to charge
cobran 200 dólares por arreglarlo they charge 200 dollars to repair it; ¿qué me va usted a cobrar? what are you going to charge me?; ¿cuánto os cobra de alquiler? how much rent does she charge you?; me han cobrado demasiado they've charged me too much; they've overcharged me; ¿me cobra, por favor? how much do I owe you?; can I have the bill, please?; ¿me cobra los cafés? how much do I owe you for the coffees?
2 (recibir)
no han cobrado el dinero prometido they haven't been paid o received the money they were promised; no hemos cobrado los dividendos we haven't received any dividends
cobran un sueldo anual de nueve millones they get o earn o receive an annual salary of nine million; ¿cuánto cobras al año? how much do you get o earn a year?; nuestro vecino está cobrando el paro our neighbour is on unemployment benefit
cantidades a o por cobrar amounts payable; amounts due; cuentas a o por cobrar accounts receivable
cobrar palos (paliza) to get a beating (crítica) to get o receive a lot of criticism
3 (recoger dinero de) [+deuda, alquiler, impuesto] to collect; [+cheque] to cash; [+subsidio, pensión] to draw
voy a ir a cobrar el desempleo I'm going to draw my unemployment benefit
tienen problemas para cobrar las multas they have problems collecting the fines
4 (adquirir)
los ordenadores han cobrado una gran importancia computers have become very important
cobrar actualidad to become topical
cobrar cariño a algn to grow fond of sb
cobrar fama to become famous
cobrar fama de inteligente/ladrón to acquire a reputation for being intelligent/a thief
cobrar fuerzas to gather one's strength
cobrar vida [+personaje, juego] to come alive
el campo reverdece y cobra vida the field turns green again and is infused with new life; en la película todo cobra vida propia the film takes on a life of its own
intransitive verb
1 (recibir dinero) (como sueldo) to be paid
cobra los viernes he gets paid on Fridays; te pagaré en cuanto cobre I'll pay you as soon as I get my wages; el lechero vino a cobrar the milkman came for his money; the milkman came to be paid; los atletas cobran por participar en la carrera the athletes get paid o receive a fee for taking part in the race
(por servicio) to charge ahora cobran por renovar la tarjeta they have introduced a charge for renewing your card; no cobramos por llevarlo a domicilio we don't charge for delivery; cobrar por los servicios prestados to charge for services rendered