llevo una camisa
/ʝebo una kamisa/from spelling rules
To say "I am wearing a shirt" in Spanish, you use llevo una camisa.
This phrase is used to describe the clothing a person has on their body at the current moment.
Which one should you use?
While English uses the continuous form "am wearing" to describe a current state, Spanish typically uses the simple present llevo to express the same idea. You can also use the form llevo puesta una camisa, where adding the word puesta (the past participle of poner, to put) is a common way to emphasize that the clothing is currently on the body.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb llevo is the first-person singular present indicative of llevar, which covers both the habitual "I wear" and the continuous "I am wearing".
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often try to translate "I am wearing" literally using the present progressive estoy llevando una camisa, but llevo is much more natural for describing current attire.
Did you know?
- If you say estoy llevando una camisa, a native speaker will understand you, but it sounds like you are in the middle of the physical process of transporting the shirt from one room to another. To describe the static state of having it on your body, the simple present llevo is the standard.
- The word camisa shares a common ancestor with the English word 'chemise', which refers to an undergarment. Historically, the word described a basic, lightweight garment worn close to the skin.
- While camisa refers to a shirt, many Spanish speakers use the word camiseta for a T-shirt. If you ask for a camisa in a casual setting, people might assume you are looking for something more formal with buttons and a collar.
Examples in context
- Tengo puesta una camisa a cuadrosI have a plaid shirt on.
- Estoy usando una camisa azul.I am wearing a blue shirt.
- Llevo una camisa elegante con pantalones negros.I have a stylish shirt on with black pants.
- Llevo una camisa blanca.I am wearing a white shirt.
- Hoy llevo una camisa azul.Today I am wearing a blue shirt.
- No, llevo una camisa de seda.No, I am wearing a silk shirt.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofia are deciding what to wear to a party.
- MateoLlevo una camisa azul, ¿está bien?I am wearing a blue shirt, is that okay?
- SofíaSí, Mateo, te queda muy bien.Yes, Mateo, it looks very good on you.
- MateoGracias, Sofía. ¿Tú qué llevas?Thanks, Sofia. What are you wearing?
- SofíaYo llevo un vestido rojo.I am wearing a red dress.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries camisa, una, CC BY-SA 4.0.
