para llevar
/paɾa ʝebaɾ/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the phrase for 'I want my food to go' is para llevar.
para llevar is the standard phrase used in restaurants and cafes to indicate you want your order to go.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'for to carry'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, the expression Me haces la comida para llevar, por favor? is commonly used for takeout.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is an adverbial expression and does not change based on the gender or number of the food being ordered.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɾa ʝebaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb in para llevar comes from the Latin levāre, which is the same root used in the English word 'levitate'.
- The verb llevar can be used to describe the act of wearing a piece of clothing. If you are llevar a hat while asking para llevar, you are using the same verb for two different actions.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, the word llevar is used to mean 'to have' an ingredient in a dish. A waiter might ask if you want your food para llevar while the menu describes a burger that lleva cheese.
Examples in context
- Dos tacos, para llevar, por favor.Two tacos, to go, please.
- Quiero una hamburguesa para llevar.I want a hamburger to go.
- ¿Es todo para llevar?Is everything to go?
- Dos cafés para llevar, por favor.Two coffees to go, please.
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are ordering at a fast food counter.
- LucíaHola, quiero una hamburguesa y papas.Hello, I want a burger and fries.
- Javier¿Es para comer aquí o para llevar?Is it to eat here or to go?
- LucíaPara llevar, por favor.To go, please.
- JavierMuy bien, Lucía. Serán diez dólares.Very well, Lucía. That will be ten dollars.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry para llevar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llevar, para, CC BY-SA 4.0.
