¿me puedes traer
The English phrase "can you bring me" is translated into Spanish as ¿me puedes traer.
This phrase is used to request that someone carries an object from another location to where the speaker is. Use traer when the movement is toward the speaker. Do not confuse it with llevar, which means "to take" (moving something away from the speaker).
How does it change in a sentence?
You can adjust the phrase to change who you are addressing. To make the request more polite or formal when addressing a stranger or superior, change puedes to puede to get ¿me puede traer. If you are asking a group of people to bring you something, use the plural form pueden to get ¿me pueden traer.
Did you know?
- The Spanish verb traer is a distant relative of the English word 'drag'. Both likely stem from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to draw' or 'to pull'.
- While ¿me puedes traer is a question, many Spanish speakers omit the 'can you' part and simply say tráeme. This turns the request into a direct command.
- The verb traer is used in idiomatic expressions to describe an abstract feeling or a 'vibe', such as traer mala suerte, which means 'to bring bad luck'.
Examples in context
- ¿Me puedes traer el periódico?Can you bring me the newspaper?
- ¿Puedes traerme una toalla aquí?Can you bring me a towel here?
- ¿me puedes traer un vaso de agua?Can you bring me a glass of water?
- ¿Me puedes traer las llaves de la mesa?Can you bring me the keys from the table?
- ¿Me puedes traer el menú, por favor?Can you bring me the menu, please?
Example conversation
At home in the living room.
- LucíaJavier, ¿me puedes traer mi teléfono?Javier, can you bring me my phone?
- JavierSí, Lucía, está en la cocina.Yes, Lucía, it is in the kitchen.
- LucíaMuchas gracias, eres muy amable.Thank you very much, you are very kind.
- JavierDe nada, no hay problema.You're welcome, no problem.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries me, traer, CC BY-SA 4.0.
