cobrar
To charge a price for a service; to collect money.
Cobrar is the act of receiving or collecting money that is owed to you.
Word in 30 Seconds
- To receive payment for goods or services.
- To request money owed for a debt.
- Commonly used when receiving a salary.
Summary
Cobrar is the act of receiving or collecting money that is owed to you.
- To receive payment for goods or services.
- To request money owed for a debt.
- Commonly used when receiving a salary.
Think of it as collecting money
Always associate 'cobrar' with the direction of the money coming towards you. If the money leaves your pocket, you are 'pagando', not 'cobrando'.
Do not confuse with paying
Beginners often mix up 'pagar' and 'cobrar'. Remember: 'Yo cobro' means I am the one getting paid.
Salary collection culture
In many Spanish-speaking countries, people refer to their payday as 'el día de cobro'. It is a highly anticipated date in the monthly calendar.
Examples
4 of 4El camarero vino a cobrar la cuenta.
The waiter came to collect the bill.
La empresa debe cobrar las facturas pendientes.
The company must collect the outstanding invoices.
¡No me cobres tanto por esto!
Don't charge me so much for this!
El artista cobra por cada obra vendida.
The artist gets paid for each work sold.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the 'C' in Cobrar as 'Cash coming in'. If you are the one receiving the cash, you are the one who is 'cobrando'.
Overview
Cobrar es un verbo fundamental en la lengua española, esencial para cualquier interacción comercial o profesional. Se utiliza principalmente para describir el flujo de dinero que llega a una persona o empresa tras completar una transacción. 2) Usage Patterns: Es un verbo transitivo que suele ir acompañado de un objeto directo (el dinero o la cantidad). Puede usarse de manera activa (yo cobro el cheque) o en contextos de servicios (el médico cobra por su consulta). También existe la forma pronominal 'cobrarse', utilizada a veces para indicar que alguien se toma justicia por su mano o recupera una deuda de forma directa. 3) Common Contexts: Es omnipresente en el comercio minorista, la banca y el ámbito laboral. Por ejemplo, al recibir un salario, se dice 'cobrar la nómina'. En una tienda, el cajero realiza la acción de 'cobrar' al cliente. Es un término neutro que se adapta tanto a entornos formales (facturación empresarial) como informales (cobrar una apuesta entre amigos). 4) Similar Words comparison: A diferencia de 'pagar', que es el acto de entregar el dinero, 'cobrar' es el acto de recibirlo. Mientras que 'recaudar' se asocia más a menudo con impuestos o fondos colectivos, 'cobrar' es un término cotidiano y directo. 'Facturar' implica un proceso administrativo previo, mientras que 'cobrar' es el resultado final de la transacción económica.
Usage Notes
Cobrar is used as a standard verb in all Spanish-speaking regions. It does not carry a specific regional nuance, making it a safe choice for formal and informal communication. Be careful to use it only when you are the receiver of the funds.
Common Mistakes
Students often say 'cobrar dinero a alguien' incorrectly when they mean 'pagar'. Remember that if you are the one giving money, you must use 'pagar'. Also, avoid using 'cobrar' for actions that do not involve money unless using the phrase 'cobrar fuerza'.
Memory Tip
Think of the 'C' in Cobrar as 'Cash coming in'. If you are the one receiving the cash, you are the one who is 'cobrando'.
Word Origin
The word comes from the Latin 'collibrare', which relates to balancing or adjusting scales. Historically, it evolved to refer to the process of settling accounts and collecting what is due.
Cultural Context
In many Latin American countries, 'cobrar' is frequently used in street markets and small businesses. It is a very direct verb that effectively communicates the need for economic settlement.
Examples
El camarero vino a cobrar la cuenta.
everydayThe waiter came to collect the bill.
La empresa debe cobrar las facturas pendientes.
formalThe company must collect the outstanding invoices.
¡No me cobres tanto por esto!
informalDon't charge me so much for this!
El artista cobra por cada obra vendida.
academicThe artist gets paid for each work sold.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
cobrar fuerza
to gain momentum
cobrar vida
to come to life
hacerse cobrar
to get paid
Often Confused With
Pagar is to pay (giving money), while cobrar is to receive (getting money). They are antonyms in the context of a transaction.
Recaudar is usually used for public funds, taxes, or charities, whereas cobrar is used for individual payments or personal debts.
Grammar Patterns
Think of it as collecting money
Always associate 'cobrar' with the direction of the money coming towards you. If the money leaves your pocket, you are 'pagando', not 'cobrando'.
Do not confuse with paying
Beginners often mix up 'pagar' and 'cobrar'. Remember: 'Yo cobro' means I am the one getting paid.
Salary collection culture
In many Spanish-speaking countries, people refer to their payday as 'el día de cobro'. It is a highly anticipated date in the monthly calendar.
Test Yourself
Completa la frase con la forma correcta de cobrar.
El cajero me va a ___ la cuenta ahora mismo.
El cajero es quien recibe el dinero, por tanto, él cobra.
Elige la opción correcta.
Si alguien te debe dinero y vas a pedirlo, ¿qué haces?
Cobrar es la acción de exigir o recibir el pago de una deuda.
Ordena la frase.
el / cobra / cada / mes / él / sueldo
Sujeto + verbo + objeto directo + complemento de tiempo.
Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsPagar es el acto de entregar dinero para liquidar una deuda, mientras que cobrar es el acto opuesto de recibir ese dinero. El pagador es quien pierde dinero momentáneamente, y el cobrador es quien lo recibe.
Sí, es muy común decir 'cobrar el sueldo' o 'cobrar la nómina' a final de mes. Indica que el trabajador ha recibido el pago por sus servicios prestados.
Es un verbo neutro. Se utiliza tanto en el lenguaje cotidiano en tiendas como en contratos formales de servicios profesionales.
Es una expresión figurada que significa que algo se vuelve más intenso o importante. No tiene relación directa con el dinero, sino con el incremento de energía o relevancia.
This Word in Other Languages
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
More daily_life words
abonar
A2To pay, to subscribe; to make a payment or subscribe to a service.
abreviar
B1To shorten (a word, phrase, or text).
abrigo
A1Coat.
abril
A1April
acercarse
A2To move closer to someone or something.
acompañar
A2To go somewhere with (someone) as a companion or escort.
acostar
A2To put someone to bed.
acostarse
A1To go to bed, to lie down for sleep.
acostumbrarse
B1To get used to a situation or habit.
actividad
A2An action or task; a pursuit.
