Hello, there!<\/p>\n
I got an e-mail from a reader asking me when to use verbs escoger<\/em> and elegir<\/em>, because they both mean “to choose”.<\/p>\n Some Spanish students get a little upset with synonyms because they can’t seem to use the right one, but hey, in English we can “choose” or “pick” something, right?<\/p>\n The Rules<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Escoger<\/strong><\/p>\n Escoger<\/em> means “to choose”, in a very broad way<\/p>\n Puedes escoger el libro que quieras del mont\u00f3n.<\/em> = You can choose any book you want from the pile. (this is a non-specific kind of choice)<\/p>\n Han escogido a esta candidata en la empresa.<\/em> = They have chosen this applicant at the company. (we don’t know what for)<\/p>\n No hemos escogido todav\u00eda el men\u00fa de la boda.<\/em> = We haven’t chosen the wedding menu yet.<\/p>\n Puedes escoger entre t\u00e9 o caf\u00e9. It’s up to you.<\/em> = You can choose between tea and coffee. Te toca a t\u00ed.<\/p>\n We have collocations with escoger<\/em>:<\/p>\n escoger bien<\/strong> = to choose well 2. Elegir<\/strong><\/p>\n We use elegir<\/em> when we choose someone or something for a specific purpose.<\/p>\n A\u00fan no ha elegido el traje.<\/em> = She still hasn’t chosen her outfit. (to wear at the party) Some collocations:<\/p>\n a elegir<\/strong> = to be selected, to be chosen In Everyday Spanish<\/strong><\/p>\n In everyday Spanish we tend to use escoger<\/em> and elegir<\/em> interchangeably, except when we talk about elections – use elegir<\/em> in this case.<\/p>\n A golden tip is to pay attention to when you find these verbs in texts, interviews, movies, etc. Try to remember the context and repeat the original sentence.<\/p>\n Nos vemos prontito.<\/p>\n
\nescoger mal<\/strong> = to choose badly
\nescoger entre … y …<\/strong> = to choose between … and …<\/p>\n
\nEligieron al delegado por votaci\u00f3n.<\/em> = They chose the delegate\/representative by voting. (the delegate has a specific role)<\/p>\n
\nsi me diera a elegir<\/strong> = if I had a choice
\ntengo donde elegir<\/strong> = I have choices
\nuno a elegir<\/strong> = choose one<\/p>\n