Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| recoger | /rekoˈxeɾ/ |
| juntar | /xunˈtaɾ/ |
| recabar | /rekaˈbaɾ/ |
| recolectar | /rekoleɡˈtaɾ/ |
The Spanish language uses several verbs to express the idea of collecting, depending on whether you are gathering physical objects, amassing resources or soliciting information. While recoger is the most common term for picking up things, juntar emphasizes bringing separate items together and recolectar is typically used for harvesting crops or gathering funds. If you are collecting data or information, recopilar is the preferred term, while recabar is used for soliciting support or signatures.
Which one should you use?
The choice of verb depends on the nuance of the collection. Use recoger for picking up physical objects or things left behind, such as laundry (recoger la ropa). Use juntar when the focus is on the act of bringing separate things together into a single group or pile. Use recolectar for collecting resources or harvesting. For formal processes of gathering information, signatures or support, use recabar. For the specific task of collecting data or information in a formal setting, use recopilar. Finally, acumular can be used formally to convey the sense of collecting or amassing over time.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin American Spanish, the verb agarrar can be used informally to mean 'to collect' or 'to pick up'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/rekoˈxeɾ/
When do people say it?
The noun colecta refers to a specific type of collection, typically a collection of money for a religious offering or a charitable cause.
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb recoger is a direct linguistic sibling of the English word 'recollect', as both derive from the Latin 'recolligere'.
Examples in context
- ¿Me acompañarás a recoger mi cerebro?Will you accompany me to collect my brain?This sentence illustrates the use of recoger in a whimsical context.Tatoeba #1089740 by Shishir, translation #1089702 by Eldad
- De chaval, Tom solía coger las colillas de su padre hasta juntar suficiente tabaco para poderse liar un cigarrillo.When Tom was a kid, he used to collect his father's cigarette butts until he had enough tobacco to roll a cigarette for himself.This sentence shows how juntar is used to describe gathering small items into a larger amount.Tatoeba #3773277 by Seael, translation #3773097 by patgfisher
- El Teletón es un programa de TV francés organizado todos los años para recolectar fondos a fin de financiar la investigación médica.The telethon is a French TV program organized every year to collect funds in order to finance medical research.This sentence demonstrates the formal use of recolectar in the context of collecting funds.Tatoeba #678473 by humbertovs, translation #703148 by papabear
- Voy a recoger a los niños del colegio.I'm going to pick up the kids from school.
- Nos vamos a juntar todos mañana en el parque.We're all going to gather in the park tomorrow.
- Vamos a recolectar donaciones para la organización benéfica.We are going to collect donations for the charity organization.
- El informe final recopila todos los datos relevantes.The final report collects all the relevant data.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are cleaning up after a party at their house.
- MateoMaría, ¿puedes recoger los vasos de la mesa?María, can you collect the glasses from the table?
- MaríaSí, yo los recogeré ahora mismo.Yes, I will collect them right now.
- MateoGracias, yo voy a recoger la basura.Thanks, I am going to collect the trash.
- MaríaPerfecto, así terminaremos rápido.Perfect, that way we will finish quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “collect” translations and entries recoger, juntar, recabar, recolectar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries juntar, recabar, recoger, recolectar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
