Definition
To choose or select something or someone from a group of options.
Example
Tienes que elegir entre el café y el té.
Show translation
You have to choose between the coffee and the tea.
Etymology
From Latin *eligere* ("to pick out, select"), composed of *ex-* ("out of") + *legere* ("to gather, read, choose"). The same Latin root gives English "elect," "elite," and "eligible" — all sharing the core idea of careful selection.
Cultural note
In Spanish-speaking countries, *elegir* vs. *escoger* is a common learner question — both mean "to choose," and they are largely interchangeable in everyday speech. However, *elegir* carries a slightly more deliberate, formal tone (voting, life decisions), while *escoger* feels more casual (picking an item off a menu). In electoral contexts, *elegir* is always preferred: *el presidente fue elegido por mayoría* (the president was elected by a majority).