Elegir vs. escoger vs. seleccionar
The Spanish words elegir, escoger and seleccionar all effectively mean to choose or to select. However, their usage can differ depending on the context and regional preferences.
Elegir
A2To choose or to elect. It often implies a thoughtful process of decision making, or choosing from several options.
Necesitamos elegir un lugar para la reunión.
(We need to choose a place for the meeting.)
Él fue elegido como presidente de la empresa.
(He was elected as the company's president.)
Escoger
A2To choose or pick out. It generally implies a process of selection, often when there are many options to select from.
De todas las opciones, decidió escoger la más riesgosa.
(Out of all the options, he decided to pick the riskiest one.)
Puedes escoger cualquier libro que quieras de la biblioteca.
(You can pick any book you want from the library.)
Seleccionar
B1This word usually implies an official, methodical or systematic selection process. It is very similar in meaning to both elegir and escoger.
El equipo de futbol está seleccionando nuevos jugadores.
(The soccer team is selecting new players.)
Debemos seleccionar un representante para el proyecto.
(We need to select a representative for the project.)
Summary
Elegir, escoger, and seleccionar are quite interchangeable and in many contexts can be used synonymously. However, seleccionar is often used in more formal or systematic processes of choice, whilst elegir often signifies a deeper decision making process and can also mean to elect. The verb escoger is frequently used when there are several alternatives. Nevertheless, these are subtle differences and may vary depending on regional uses.