to take, to grab, to catch, to have sex (vulgar), to fuck
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/koˈxeɾ/
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It denotes taking or seizing something, from grabbing an object to catching transport, and also serves as a vulgar term for sexual intercourse in many Latin American dialects.
Ella siempre coge la primera oportunidad que aparece.
She always seizes the first opportunity that appears.
Ellos se cogen en la habitación.
They have sex in the room.
Ese chiste es sobre coger y es muy vulgar.
That joke is about sex and is very vulgar.
Puedes coger la pelota si la lanzas más alto.
You can grab the ball if you throw it higher.
En algunos países, coger se considera una palabra grosera.
In some countries, coger is considered a rude word.
Similar words
tomar
tirar
asir
agarrar
tener sexo
cacharrear
pillar
follar
cachondear
captar
Meanings
Take or grab
verb
physical
neutral
To seize or take hold of something, including catching a vehicle, a turn, or any object.
Usage
Use coger for taking or grabbing objects and catching transport in neutral contexts.
Examples
Voy a coger el tren a las ocho.
I take the train at eight.
Puedes coger la pelota si la lanzas más alto.
You can grab the ball if you throw it higher.
Ella siempre coge la primera oportunidad que aparece.
She always seizes the first opportunity that appears.
¿Puedes coger una silla para mí?
Can you grab a chair for me?
Tengo que coger el autobús para llegar al trabajo.
I have to catch the bus to get to work.
No coges la llave, está en la mesa.
You don't take the key, it's on the table.
Él cogió el libro antes de salir.
He took the book before leaving.
Common mistakes
Mixing forms and meanings often leads to confusion.
Incorrect
Correct
Yo coger la silla.
Yo cojo la silla.
¿Puedes coger a mi hermano?
¿Puedes agarrar a mi hermano?
Ellos cogieron la idea.
Ellos captaron la idea.
Yo cogo el libro.
Yo cojo el libro.
Similar words
agarrar
tomar
captar
asir
apoderarse
pillar
Have sexual intercourse (vulgar)
verb
sexual
slang
To engage in sexual activity, used as a vulgar term in many Latin American varieties.
Usage
Use coger for the vulgar sexual sense only in regions where it is understood that way; otherwise choose a less offensive verb.
Examples
Ellos se cogen en la habitación.
They have sex in the room.
No deberías coger a tu hermana.
You shouldn't fuck your sister.
¿Qué pasa si coges a alguien sin su consentimiento?
What happens if you have sex with someone without consent?
En la fiesta, la pareja se cogió después de bailar.
At the party, the couple had sex after dancing.
Ese chiste es sobre coger y es muy vulgar.
That joke is about sex and is very vulgar.
Algunos jóvenes usan coger como sinónimo de follar.
Some youths use coger as a synonym for fuck.
En algunos países, coger se considera una palabra grosera.
In some countries, coger is considered a rude word.
Common mistakes
Confusing the vulgar sexual sense with neutral meanings creates awkward sentences.
Incorrect
Correct
Él coge a su novia en el parque.
Él tiene sexo con su novia en el parque.
¿Quieres coger una película?
¿Quieres ver una película?
Nosotros cogimos la fiesta.
Nosotros asistimos a la fiesta.
Ella cogió el examen.
Ella aprobó el examen.
Similar words
follar
echarse
tener sexo
tirar
cacharrear
cachondear
Usage
Use coger for taking or grabbing objects and catching transport in neutral contexts; avoid it for the vulgar sexual sense in regions where it may offend.
Common mistakes
Confusing coger with tomar in neutral contexts can cause misunderstanding.
Etymology
From Latin cōgere ‘to gather, seize’, via Old Spanish coger.
FAQ
What does coger mean in Spanish?
coger can mean to take or grab something, or to catch transport, and in many Latin American varieties it is a vulgar term for sexual intercourse.
How do you use coger to talk about catching a bus?
You would say Voy a coger el autobús to indicate that you are taking the bus.
Is coger vulgar in all Spanish‑speaking countries?
No. In Spain it is neutral, but in many Latin American countries it is considered vulgar when used for the sexual sense.
What is the difference between coger and tomar?
coger emphasizes seizing or grabbing, while tomar is a more general verb for taking or drinking.
Can coger be used to refer to sexual activity?
Yes, in many Latin American dialects it is a vulgar way to say to have sex.
How do you conjugate coger in the present tense?
Yo cojo, tú coges, él/ella coge, nosotros cogemos, vosotros cogéis, ellos cogen.
What are common mistakes when using coger?
Mixing up the neutral and vulgar senses, using the wrong conjugation, or confusing it with tomar can lead to errors.
What is the origin of the verb coger?
It comes from Latin cōgere ‘to gather, seize’, which evolved into Old Spanish coger.
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