llevar ropa
/ʝebaɾ ɾopa/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'to wear clothes' is translated as llevar ropa.
The phrase is used to express that someone has clothing on their body. For example, if you want to emphasize what someone is currently wearing at a specific moment, Spanish speakers often use the construction llevar puesto.
Which one should you use?
The verb llevar has multiple meanings. It can mean both 'to wear' (clothing) and 'to carry' (an object). Additionally, the verb vestir serves as a more formal alternative when referring to the act of wearing or dressing.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase llevar ropa is conjugated as a standard -ar verb. For example, you can use the third-person singular form lleva ropa to say 'he/she wears clothes'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝebaɾ ɾopa/
Did you know?
- The word ropa is used in the phrase ropa vieja, which literally means 'old clothes' but is actually a popular slow-cooked stew in Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
- The verb llevar originates from the Latin levāre, which meant 'to lift' or 'to raise'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase llevar puesta can be used to describe not just clothing, but also things like a smile or a certain expression on one's face.
Examples in context
- Ella lleva una camisa roja.She is wearing a red shirt.
- Ella suele llevar ropa formal en el trabajo.She usually wears formal clothes at work.
- No quiero llevar ropa de color oscuro hoy.I don't want to wear dark colored clothes today.
- ¿Por qué quieres llevar ropa tan pesada?Why do you want to wear such heavy clothes?
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are deciding what to wear for a party.
- Alejandro¿Qué vamos a llevar ropa para la fiesta?What clothes are we going to wear for the party?
- MaríaYo voy a llevar ropa elegante.I am going to wear elegant clothes.
- AlejandroEntonces yo también llevaré ropa elegante.Then I will also wear elegant clothes.
- MaríaPerfecto, Alejandro, nos veremos luego.Perfect, Alejandro, I'll see you later.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries llevar, ropa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
