Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| agarrar | /aɡaˈraɾ/ |
| asir | /aˈsiɾ/ |
| apercollar | /apeɾkoˈʝaɾ/ |
| apergollar | /apeɾɡoʝaɾ/ (from spelling rules) |
| coger | /koˈxeɾ/ |
Which one should you use?
While agarrar and coger are both used to mean grab, take or catch, they differ significantly in connotation depending on where you are. Agarrar is a neutral and safe choice for grabbing or seizing. In contrast, coger is very common in many countries, but in several Latin American countries, most notably Mexico and Argentina, it is a vulgar slang term for sexual intercourse.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Asir is a highly formal or literary term for grasping or seizing and is much less common in daily conversation than the other options. Agarrar is a neutral alternative that is safe to use in any situation to avoid potential vulgarity. Coger is common in many areas but should be used with caution due to its informal and potentially offensive nature in certain regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Coger can be seen as vulgar or offensive in some regions, particularly in Mexico and Argentina where it is used as slang for sexual intercourse.
How do you pronounce it?
/aɡaˈraɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb agarrar is built from the word garra, which means 'claw'. When you use it, you are linguistically describing the act of grabbing something with a claw.
- Using the word asir in a modern setting like a cafe might make you sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
- In some regions, the word coger is so risky that people avoid it even when talking about 'grabbing' a bus or 'taking' a coffee, preferring the neutral verb tomar instead.
Examples in context
- Voy a la máquina a coger un café.I'm going to the machine to grab a coffee.This sentence shows how to use coger when getting a drink.Tatoeba #6617850 by arh, translation #9788548 by helloroto
- Hay que coger el toro por los cuernos.To catch the bull, grab its horns.This sentence uses coger in an idiomatic expression about catching a bull.Tatoeba #1308769 by wallebot, translation #535793 by Scott
- Tenemos que coger el toro por los cuernos.We need to grab the bull by the horns.This sentence uses coger in a common idiomatic expression meaning to face a difficulty directly.Tatoeba #3774999 by Shishir, translation #10113804 by DJ_Saidez
- Por favor, tome el libro de la estantería.Please grab the book from the shelf.
- ¡Agarra la pelota antes de que se escape!Grab the ball before it gets away!
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are walking in a park when a balloon starts to fly away.
- Elena¡Mira, el globo se escapa!Look, the balloon is escaping!
- Javier¡Voy a intentar agarrar el hilo!I am going to try to grab the string!
- Elena¡Hazlo rápido antes de que se vaya!Do it quickly before it goes away!
- Javier¡Lo logré, ya lo tengo!I did it, I have it!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grab” translations and entries agarrar, asir, apercollar, coger, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries agarrar, apercollar, asir, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
