Vamos a acoger al perro.

Vamos a + infinitive is a very common way to talk about the near future in Spanish, much like to be going to in English.

• Vamos a acoger al perro = We’re going to take in the dog
• Acogeremos al perro = We will take in the dog

Both can be correct, but vamos a acoger often sounds a bit more immediate, conversational, or planned.

Acogemos al perro usually means we take in the dog in a present-time or habitual sense, so it would not normally be the best choice if you want a future meaning.

Acoger means something like to take in, to give shelter to, to receive, or to welcome.

With al perro, it usually suggests that the dog is being taken in and cared for, not just physically picked up. Depending on context, it could mean:

• taking the dog into your home
• sheltering the dog
• fostering the dog
• receiving the dog into your care

It does not always mean permanent adoption. If you specifically mean adopt, Spanish would often use adoptar instead.

Not exactly.

• Acoger = to take in / shelter / foster / receive into care
• Adoptar = to adopt

So Vamos a acoger al perro may mean the dog is being cared for, perhaps temporarily or as a general act of taking it in.

If the idea is specifically legal or permanent adoption, Vamos a adoptar al perro would usually be more precise.

Because Spanish uses the personal a before a specific direct object when it refers to people, and often also with animals when they are specific or treated as individual beings.

Here, el perro is a specific dog, so Spanish says:

• acoger al perro

This is made of:

• a = the personal a
• el perro = the dog

Together, a + el = al.

So al perro does not mean to the dog here. It marks the dog as a specific animate direct object.

Because in Spanish, a + el always contracts to al.

So:

• a + el perro → al perro

This is a fixed rule. The only common similar contraction is:

• de + el → del

But note that this only happens with the article el, not with él meaning he.

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

• vamos = we go / we are going

So Vamos a acoger al perro already clearly means we are going to take in the dog.

You could say Nosotros vamos a acoger al perro, but it is usually unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast, such as:

• Nosotros vamos a acoger al perro, no ellos.
  We’re going to take in the dog, not them.

On its own, vamos does mean we go. But when followed by a + infinitive, it forms a future expression:

• vamos a comer = we’re going to eat
• vamos a salir = we’re going to leave
• vamos a acoger = we’re going to take in

So here, you should read vamos a as one unit meaning we are going to.

Spanish uses articles very regularly, and with a specific noun like perro, you normally need one.

Here, el perro means the dog, referring to a specific dog already known in the conversation or context.

Because of the personal a, el perro becomes al perro.

So the structure is:

• acoger
  • a
    • el perro
• contracted: acoger al perro

Yes, acoger contains the idea of taking or receiving, and historically it is related to coger, but you should learn acoger as its own verb with its own meaning.

Important note for learners:

• acoger is completely normal and neutral everywhere
• coger is common and neutral in Spain, but in much of Latin America it can have a vulgar meaning

So in this sentence, acoger is the safe, standard verb and has no vulgar sense.

In Spain, acoger is pronounced roughly like ah-ko-HER, with the stress on the last syllable:

• a-co-GER

The g before e is pronounced like the strong Spanish sound heard in gente or jamón.

Also, in natural speech, vamos a often sounds smooth and connected, almost like:

• vá-mo-sa-co-ger

But it is still written as vamos a acoger.

Yes, Spanish word order is fairly flexible, although Vamos a acoger al perro is the most neutral and standard order.

For emphasis, you might hear things like:

• Al perro lo vamos a acoger nosotros.
• Nosotros vamos a acoger al perro.

These versions change the focus or emphasis, but the basic meaning stays the same.

For a learner, the simplest pattern to remember is:

• [verb phrase] + [direct object]
• Vamos a acoger al perro.