llevar
/ʝeˈbaɾ/
To move something or someone from one place to another is llevar in Spanish.
The verb llevar is used to describe the act of moving an object or a person from one location to another. You can use the phrase llevar puesto to express that someone is currently wearing a specific piece of clothing or an accessory. In more formal contexts, if you want to imply that one is carrying an item with oneself, you can use the expression llevar consigo. Additionally, the verb portar can be used to convey the idea of carrying something and the verb lucir can be used to indicate wearing something with style.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish llevar from traer. Use llevar when you are moving something from your current location to a different destination. In contrast, use traer when you are moving something toward your current location.
How does it change in a sentence?
The first-person singular present indicative form is llevo (I carry or I am carrying). To describe an ongoing action of carrying something in the past, you can use the imperfect indicative form llevaba (I was carrying or I used to carry).
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝeˈbaɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, you might use llevar to talk about time, such as in the phrase llevo tres años aquí to mean 'I have been here for three years'.
- The English word 'levitate' is a distant cousin of llevar, as both originate from the same Latin root levāre meaning 'to raise'.
- You can use llevar to express that a food or drink has a certain ingredient, such as este café lleva leche which translates to 'this coffee has milk in it'.
Examples in context
- Debe llevar consigo su pasaporteYou must carry your passport with you
- Es importante portar identificaciónIt is important to carry identification
- Ayúdame a cargar las bolsasHelp me carry the bags
- ¿Me llevas al aeropuerto?Can you drive/take me to the airport?
- Voy a llevar el coche al tallerI'm going to take the car to the mechanic
- María lleva una maleta grande al aeropuertoMaría is carrying a big suitcase to the airport
- Voy a llevar mi abrigo porque hace fríoI'm going to wear my coat because it's cold
- Lleva la comida a la fiestaTake the food to the party
- No olvides llevar tu paraguasDon't forget to take your umbrella
- Puedo llevar las bolsas al coche.I can carry the bags to the car.
- ¿Me puedes llevar a la estación?Can you take me to the station?
- Ella quiere llevar los libros a la biblioteca.She wants to take the books to the library.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are preparing to leave a party.
- Alejandro¿Me ayudas a llevar este regalo?Will you help me carry this gift?
- LucíaSí, Alejandro, yo lo llevo.Yes, Alejandro, I will carry it.
- AlejandroGracias, Lucía, es muy pesado.Thanks, Lucía, it is very heavy.
- LucíaNo te preocupes, lo llevo yo.Don't worry, I'll carry it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry llevar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llevar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
