elegir

Elegir is a Spanish verb meaning to choose, to decide between options, or to elect, especially in political or formal contexts. It is transitive and can take a direct object (for example, elegir una opción) or the indirect object form when selecting a person (elegir a alguien). In everyday language, it is often contrasted with escoger, where elegir implies a more deliberate or principled decision, while escoger can be broader and more casual. It is widely used across Spanish-speaking regions, with some regional preferences in nuance.

In terms of usage, elegir appears in phrases such as elegir entre varias alternativas, elegir a un candidato, or elegir un camino. The reflexive form, elegirse, is uncommon and typically refers to someone choosing to appoint themselves to a position, though it is not common in ordinary speech. For political contexts, elegir is the standard verb for elections: los ciudadanos eligieron al nuevo presidente.

Conjugation overview: in the present indicative, the forms are elijo, eliges, elige, elegimos, elegís, eligen. The preterite is elegí, elegiste, eligió, elegimos, elegisteis, eligieron. The imperfect is elegía, elegías, elegía, elegíamos, elegíais, elegían. The future is elegiré, elegirás, elegirá, elegiremos, elegiréis, elegirán. The present subjunctive is elija, elijas, elija, elijamos, elijáis, elijan, and the imperfect subjunctive can be eligiera/eligiese, eligieras, eligiera, eligiéramos/eligésemos, eligierais, eligieran/eligiesen. The participle is elegido and the gerund is eligiendo.

Etymology: elegir derives from Latin eligere, meaning to select or pick, a fusion of elements meaning “out” and “choose.” Related verbs include elegir, escoger, and optar, each with its own nuances of selection and decision. See also: escoger, optar.