Why Don’t You Choose Some Fruit in Spanish? | Say It Naturally

The most natural Spanish line is “¿Por qué no eliges alguna fruta?”, and “¿por qué no escoges…?” works too, depending on region and tone.

You’re trying to say something simple: you want someone to pick fruit. In English, “Why don’t you…?” often lands as a friendly suggestion. In Spanish, you can match that same feel, but the wording you pick changes the vibe fast.

This article gives you the best Spanish options, when to use each one, and the small grammar details that keep your sentence sounding smooth. You’ll also get quick swaps for tú/usted/ustedes and a short “say this, not that” list that saves time when you’re speaking.

What The English Sentence Means In Real Life

“Why don’t you choose some fruit?” can mean a few things, based on voice and context:

• A friendly suggestion: “Pick fruit. That’s a good idea.”
• A gentle nudge: “Go ahead, pick fruit already.”
• A mild complaint: “You should’ve picked fruit.”

Spanish can express all three, but it won’t always use the same grammar shape. The closest match for a suggestion is usually “¿Por qué no…?” plus a verb in the present tense.

Why Don’t You Choose Some Fruit in Spanish? For Polite Suggestions

For the “friendly suggestion” meaning, these are the strongest, most natural choices:

Option 1: “¿Por qué no eliges alguna fruta?”

This is the clean, everyday version. It’s a suggestion, not a command. Use it with someone you address as tú.

• ¿Por qué no eliges alguna fruta? (tú)
• ¿Por qué no elige alguna fruta? (usted)
• ¿Por qué no eligen alguna fruta? (ustedes)

Option 2: “¿Por qué no escoges alguna fruta?”

Same meaning. In many places, escoger is used a lot in daily speech. In other places, elegir sounds a touch more common. Both are standard Spanish.

Option 3: “¿Por qué no eliges una fruta?”

Use una fruta when you mean “one piece of fruit” or “one fruit item.” Use alguna fruta when you mean “some fruit” in a looser, more open way.

Small choice, big payoff: “alguna” vs “una”

Alguna fruta feels like “pick any fruit you want.” Una fruta feels like “pick one.” If you’re offering a bowl with multiple options, alguna often fits better.

Picking The Right Tone: Suggestion, Nudge, Or Firm Push

Spanish gives you a dial you can turn. You can keep it gentle, you can sound playful, or you can sound firm. The trick is the verb form and the extra words you add.

Gentle and friendly

• ¿Por qué no eliges alguna fruta?
• ¿Por qué no escoges fruta?
• ¿Quieres elegir alguna fruta? (This is an offer, soft and polite.)

Light nudge

• ¿Y si eliges alguna fruta? (Like “What if you pick…?”)
• ¿Qué tal si eliges alguna fruta? (Casual suggestion.)

More direct, still normal

• Elige alguna fruta. (Command, tú.)
• Elija alguna fruta. (Command, usted.)
• Elijan alguna fruta. (Command, ustedes.)

If you’re speaking to a guest, a customer, or someone you don’t know well, the usted form is the safer pick. If you’re talking to a friend or a child, tú is fine.

Spelling And Verb Forms That Trip People Up

Two things commonly go wrong in this sentence: the spelling of por qué and the conjugation of elegir.

“Por qué” vs “porque”

In a direct question, you want por qué (two words). That’s the version used in “¿Por qué no…?” The Royal Spanish Academy explains the differences clearly in its guidance on “porqué / porque / por qué / por que”.

“Eliges” is correct, “elijes” is not

With tú in the present tense, it’s eliges. The Academy’s verb entry shows the correct forms for elegir in full, including eliges, elijo, and elige: RAE entry for “elegir”.

If you want a quick spelling rule that sticks: in forms like elige and eliges, Spanish uses g before e and i. The Diccionario panhispánico de dudas notes this point for elegir: DPD note on “elegir”.

Meaning Differences: “Elegir” Vs “Escoger”

In day-to-day speech, both can mean “to choose.” Still, they carry tiny differences depending on region and context.

Elegir can feel a bit closer to “to select,” and it’s also used in contexts like elections. Escoger can feel like “pick one from the options in front of you.” Both verbs are standard, and both fit fruit choices without sounding stiff.

If you’re learning Spanish, it’s smart to learn both and use the one you hear around you. The RAE definitions and conjugations can help you confirm forms: RAE entry for “escoger”.

Also, English “Why don’t you…?” is commonly taught as “¿Por qué no…?” Cambridge’s bilingual dictionary reflects that suggestion pattern directly. If you want a quick check, see: Cambridge entry for “why don’t you…?”.

Now let’s turn that into ready-to-use lines you can say without stopping to think.

Ready-To-Say Phrases For Common Situations

These are practical lines you can plug into real moments: hosting, ordering, serving kids, or offering options. Choose the one that matches your setting.

When offering fruit at home

• ¿Por qué no eliges alguna fruta? (Friendly, tú.)
• ¿Te apetece elegir fruta? (Casual in Spain; “Do you feel like…?”)
• ¿Quieres una manzana o un plátano? (Offer two choices, fast.)

When serving guests or customers

• ¿Por qué no elige alguna fruta? (Polite, usted.)
• Si quiere, puede elegir fruta. (Soft, service tone.)
• Puede escoger la fruta que prefiera. (Clear permission + choice.)

When talking to a group

• ¿Por qué no eligen alguna fruta? (ustedes.)
• Pueden escoger fruta si quieren. (Relaxed group offer.)

When you want it to sound playful

• Venga, elige alguna fruta. (Light push; common in Spain.)
• Anda, escoge una fruta. (Friendly nudge; tone matters.)

Tone lives in your voice, not just your words. A rising, friendly intonation keeps “¿Por qué no…?” from sounding like a complaint.

English Intention	Spanish Line	When It Fits Best
Friendly suggestion (tú)	¿Por qué no eliges alguna fruta?	Family, friends, casual hosting
Friendly suggestion (usted)	¿Por qué no elige alguna fruta?	Guests you don’t know well, service settings
Group suggestion	¿Por qué no eligen alguna fruta?	Offering fruit to several people
Offer with permission	Puede escoger la fruta que prefiera.	When you want to sound polite and clear
Offer two choices	¿Quieres una manzana o un plátano?	Kids, quick decisions, limited options
Light nudge	¿Y si eliges alguna fruta?	When someone hesitates or stalls
Direct command (tú)	Elige alguna fruta.	When you need directness (parents, coaching)
Direct command (usted)	Elija alguna fruta.	Formal instruction, polite but firm
Direct command (group)	Elijan alguna fruta.	Giving a clear instruction to a group

Common Mistakes And Cleaner Fixes

If your goal is natural Spanish, these are the errors to watch for. Some are grammar issues. Some are tone issues.

Mistake 1: Using “porque” in the question

Wrong: “Porque no eliges alguna fruta?”

Right: “¿Por qué no eliges alguna fruta?”

Mistake 2: Mixing pronouns and verb forms

Wrong: “¿Por qué no eliges…?” (to someone you’re addressing as usted)

Right: “¿Por qué no elige…?”

Mistake 3: Picking a verb that clashes with your region

If you’re in a place where people mostly say escoger for everyday choices, using elegir still works. It may sound a touch bookish in casual talk. If you’re in a place where elegir is common, escoger still sounds normal. Listen to the people around you and copy their default.

Mistake 4: Making “Why don’t you…?” sound like a complaint

Spanish can read “¿Por qué no…?” as a gentle suggestion, yet it can also sound like “Why haven’t you…?” if your tone drops or your face looks annoyed. If you want pure suggestion, add a softener:

• ¿Por qué no eliges alguna fruta, si te apetece?
• ¿Por qué no eliges fruta, si quieres?

Those little add-ons signal choice and reduce the “you should’ve done this already” vibe.

Fast Swaps: Change Person Without Rebuilding The Sentence

Once you know the verb change, you can reuse the same line across settings. Here are the core swaps for the two most common verbs.

Person	With “elegir”	With “escoger”
tú	¿Por qué no eliges…?	¿Por qué no escoges…?
usted	¿Por qué no elige…?	¿Por qué no escoge…?
ustedes	¿Por qué no eligen…?	¿Por qué no escogen…?
Command (tú)	Elige…	Escoge…
Command (usted)	Elija…	Escoja…
Command (ustedes)	Elijan…	Escojan…

Mini Checklist For Saying It Smoothly

If you want a quick mental script, use this.

1. Decide who you’re talking to: tú, usted, or ustedes.
2. Pick your verb: elegir or escoger.
3. Choose the noun phrase: alguna fruta (open choice) or una fruta (one item).
4. Say it with a light, rising tone if you mean it as a suggestion.

Put it together and you get lines like these, ready for real conversation:

• ¿Por qué no eliges alguna fruta?
• ¿Por qué no elige una fruta?
• ¿Por qué no escogen fruta?

That’s it. You’ve got the natural phrasing, the tone options, and the verb swaps. Next time you’re offering fruit, you won’t be stuck translating word by word.