para llevar
/paɾa ʝebaɾ/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'takeout' (referring to food) is translated into Spanish as para llevar.
In Spanish, para llevar is used as an adjective to describe food that is intended to be eaten away from the place where it was purchased. For the noun meaning 'food purchased from a takeaway', you can use comida para llevar, which is the most common and universal term for takeout.
Meaning: (of food) intended to be eaten off the premises from which it was bought (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase para llevar literally means 'to carry' or 'to take away'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While para llevar is used as an adjective to describe food, it functions as an infinitive phrase meaning 'to be taken away'.
How do you pronounce it?
/paɾa ʝebaɾ/
When do people say it?
When dining out, a server will often ask you ¿Para llevar o para comer aquí? to determine if you want your food to go or if you wish to eat in the restaurant.
Did you know?
- The verb llevar is a linguistic relative of the English word 'levitate', as both derive from the Latin root for lightness and lifting.
- Depending on the region, a server might use the word domicilio when discussing food not eaten in the restaurant, specifically referring to home delivery.
- If you see the word para used in a political context in a Spanish-speaking country, it might actually be a shortening of 'paramilitar' rather than the preposition 'for'.
Examples in context
- Buenos días, ¿podría pedir comida para llevar, por favor?Good morning, could I order food to go, please?
- Quiero pedir comida para llevar.I want to order takeout.
- ¿Es todo para llevar?Is everything for takeout?
- Pedimos una pizza para llevar.We ordered a pizza for takeout.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are deciding what to do for dinner.
- AlejandroNo quiero cocinar hoy.I don't want to cook today.
- Elena¿Pedimos algo para llevar?Shall we order some takeout?
- AlejandroSí, me parece una buena idea.Yes, I think that is a good idea.
- ElenaPerfecto, yo elijo el restaurante.Perfect, I will choose the restaurant.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “takeout” translations and entries 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.
