quitar
/kiˈtaɾ/
In Spanish, 'take away' is said as quitar.
Quitar is used when you want to remove something, such as an obstacle, a stain or an object from a surface.
Meaning: to remove something and put it in a different place (verb)
Which one should you use?
While quitar is used to remove or take something away, the verb llevarse is used when the emphasis is on the act of carrying something away with you.
How does it change in a sentence?
Quitar is a regular '-ar' verb in the present tense. If you want to say 'I took away' or 'I removed' in the past tense, use the first-person singular preterite form quité.
How do you pronounce it?
/kiˈtaɾ/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, if you want food 'to go' at a restaurant, you do not use quitar. Instead, you use para llevar, which literally means 'for carrying'.
- The phrase quitar el sueño literally means 'to take away the sleep', but it is used idiomatically to describe something that keeps you awake with worry or excitement.
- The Spanish verb quitar shares a common ancestor with the English words 'quiet' and 'quit'.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedo pedir esta hamburguesa para llevar?Can I order this burger to take away?
- Voy a agarrar algo de comida para llevar.I'm going to grab some food to take away.
- ¿Me puedes empacar las sobras para llevar?Can you pack the leftovers for me to take away?
- Quita la mano de la mesa.Take your hand off the table.
- Puedes quitar ese libro de la mesa.Can you take that book off the table.
- Hay que quitar la basura de la cocina.We must take the trash out of the kitchen.
- Ella quiere quitar las flores del jarrón.She wants to take the flowers out of the vase.
Example conversation
María and Javier are tidying up the living room.
- MaríaJavier, ¿puedes quitar los platos de la mesa?Javier, can you take the plates off the table?
- JavierSí, María, los quitaré ahora mismo.Yes, María, I will take them away right now.
- MaríaGracias, la mesa debe quedar limpia.Thank you, the table must be left clean.
- JavierNo te preocupes, yo lo hago.Don't worry, I'll do it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry quitar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quitar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
