llevar ropa
/ʝebaɾ ɾopa/from spelling rules
To wear clothes in Spanish is llevar ropa.
The phrase llevar ropa is used to describe the state of having clothing on one's body.
Which one should you use?
While llevar ropa focuses on the state of having clothes on the body, the phrase ponerse la ropa refers specifically to the action of putting clothes on.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say that he or she wears clothes, you use the third person singular form lleva ropa. If you want to describe a continuous state in the past, such as someone who was wearing clothes, use the imperfect tense form llevaba ropa.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʝebaɾ ɾopa/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word ropa shares a common ancestor with the English word 'robe'. Both derive from a Germanic root meaning to tear or snatch, originally referring to coarse cloth.
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, ropa is used in the phrase ropa sucia to refer to 'dirty laundry'. This is often used metaphorically in the expression lavar la ropa sucia en casa to mean keeping family secrets private.
- Because llevar is so versatile, Spanish speakers use it to describe wearing everything from a wedding dress to a specific scent of perfume or a certain look in their eyes.
Examples in context
- Por favor, es importante utilizar ropa adecuada para la entrevista.Please, it is important to wear appropriate clothes for the interview.
- ¡Apúrate y ponte ropa si no quieres llegar tarde!Hurry up and put on clothes if you don't want to be late!
- Me eché cualquier cosa encima y salí corriendo de casa.I threw something on and rushed out of the house.
- Ella lleva ropa elegante.She is wearing elegant clothes.
- Él suele llevar ropa formal al trabajo.He usually wears formal clothes to work.
- No quiero llevar ropa de colores brillantes.I don't want to wear bright-colored clothes.
- Ella prefiere llevar ropa cómoda en casa.She prefers to wear comfortable clothes at home.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are deciding what to wear for a party.
- ElenaJavier, ¿qué vas a llevar ropa hoy?Javier, what clothes are you going to wear today?
- JavierQuiero llevar ropa casual, ¿y tú?I want to wear casual clothes, and you?
- ElenaYo voy a llevar ropa más formal.I am going to wear more formal clothes.
- JavierEstá bien, Elena, nos vemos luego.That's fine, Elena, 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.
