pick up — learn casually
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To learn something without formal lessons, often by hearing or watching others.
Say it like a native
Textbook I acquired some Italian while residing in Rome.
Native I picked up a bit of Italian while I was living in Rome.
For informal, by-exposure learning, natives say 'pick up'. 'Acquire' sounds academic; 'study' implies a classroom, the opposite of this sense.
Pattern: pick (something) up
In use
- She picked up some Spanish while traveling in Mexico.study
- I picked up a few useful phrases by listening to English songs and watching movies.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I picked up English at university for four years.
✓ I studied English at university for four years.
Formal, sustained study is 'study/learn'. 'Pick up' is casual and incidental.
Common collocations
pick up + skill— a bit of Spanish, the basics, a few phrases, some cooking
Don't confuse it
Different from 'study,' which is more formal and planned.
Related
- pick up (collect) — Another meaning of 'pick up' is 'collect'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.