¿para llevar?
/paɾa ʝeˈbaɾ/word by word
In Spanish, the phrase for "can I get it to go?" is ¿para llevar?
This phrase is used to request that food or drink be packaged so it can be consumed elsewhere rather than inside the establishment. While the English equivalent is a full sentence, it is most common and natural in Spanish to use the short elliptical phrase ¿para llevar? as a question.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "for to carry".
Which one should you use?
The phrase para llevar is used for takeaway orders, whereas the opposite is para comer aquí, which means "to eat here" and is used if you intend to eat inside the establishment.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you want to include the object "it" within the phrase, you attach the pronoun lo to the end of the infinitive verb llevar, resulting in para llevarlo.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɾa ʝeˈbaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb llevar shares a root with the English word 'levitate' because both derive from the Latin levāre, meaning 'to lift' or 'to raise'.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you leave leftovers at a restaurant, you do not ask for a 'doggy bag' but instead ask para llevar to have the remains packaged.
- In certain Latin American countries, the verb tomar is used instead of llevar specifically when the item being taken 'to go' is a beverage.
Examples in context
- Oye, ¿me lo podrías poner para llevar?Hey, could you put it to go for me?
- Un café, ¿para llevar, por favor?A coffee, to go, please?
Example conversation
María is ordering food at a cafe.
- MaríaHola, quiero un sándwich.Hello, I want a sandwich.
- Alejandro¿Lo quiere comer aquí?Do you want to eat it here?
- MaríaNo, ¿para llevar?No, can I get it to go?
- AlejandroClaro, María, enseguida lo empaco.Of course, María, I'll pack it right away.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (para, llevar) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llevar, para, CC BY-SA 4.0.
