para llevar
/paɾa ʝebaɾ/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'take out' is translated as para llevar.
The phrase para llevar is used in a restaurant setting to specify that you want your food to go rather than dining in. When you are ordering food to take away, you might use the informal phrase Pedir para llevar, which literally means 'ask for to go'.
Meaning: to remove (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase para llevar literally means 'to carry' or 'to take away'.
Which one should you use?
Para llevar (take-out) is the direct functional opposite of para comer aquí (to eat here) when ordering food.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɾa ʝebaɾ/
Did you know?
- The word llevar is remarkably versatile and can also mean 'to wear' a piece of clothing or 'to lead' a certain lifestyle.
- In Spain, you might hear para llevar used for things other than food, such as when a pharmacy gives you a prescription to take home.
- The verb llevar in para llevar comes from the Latin levāre, which originally meant 'to raise' or 'to lift'.
Examples in context
- ¿Para llevar o para comer aquí?Dine-in or take-out?This sentence is useful for understanding how to ask if a customer wants to dine in or have take-out using para llevar.Tatoeba #8888984 by escudo119, translation #9176764 by DJ_Saidez
- Quiero retirar la solicitudI want to take out the application
- Voy a pedir una hamburguesa para llevarI'm going to order a hamburger to go
- Necesito sacar algunos libros de la bibliotecaI need to take out some books from the library.
Example conversation
Daniel and Elena are at a cafe.
- DanielHola, Elena. ¿Quieres comer aquí?Hello, Elena. Do you want to eat here?
- ElenaNo, prefiero pedirlo para llevar.No, I prefer to get it to take out.
- DanielDe acuerdo, yo también lo pediré para llevar.Alright, I will get mine to take out too.
- ElenaPerfecto, vamos a pedir ahora.Perfect, let's order now.
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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
